[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 163 (Friday, August 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44860-44870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22365]
[[Page 44859]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part VIII
Environmental Protection Agency
_______________________________________________________________________
Environmental Education Grants Program; Fiscal Year 1998; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 163 / Friday, August 22, 1997 /
Notices
[[Page 44860]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5878-7]
Solicitation Notice; Environmental Education Grants Program;
Fiscal Year 1998
Contents
Section I--Overview and Deadlines
Section II--Eligible Applicants and Activities
Section III--Funding Priorities
Section IV--Requirements for Proposals and Matching Funds
Section V--Review and Selection Process
Section VI--Grantee Responsibilities
Section VII--Other Information and Mailing List
Section I. Overview and Deadlines
A. Purpose of Solicitation
This notice solicits grant proposals from education institutions,
environmental and educational public agencies, and not-for-profit
organizations to support environmental education projects, as defined
in this notice. This solicitation notice contains all the information
and forms necessary to prepare a proposal. If your project is selected
as a finalist after the evaluation process is concluded, EPA will
provide you with additional forms needed to process your proposal.
The Environmental Education Grants Program provides financial
support for projects which design, demonstrate, or disseminate
environmental education practices, methods, or techniques. This program
is authorized under Section 6 of the National Environmental Education
Act of 1990 (the Act) (Pub. L. 101-619). EPA anticipates funding of
approximately $3 million in Fiscal year 1998, subject to the
availability of funds. The Act requires that 25% of available funds go
to small grants of $5,000 or less and sets a maximum limit of $250,000
for a single grant. These grants require non-federal matching funds for
a minimum of 25% of the total cost of the project.
B. What is Environmental Education?
Environmental education: increases public awareness and knowledge
about environmental issues; provides the public with the skills needed
to make informed decisions and take responsible actions; enhances
critical-thinking, problem-solving, and effective decision-making
skills; and teaches individuals to weigh various sides of an
environmental issue to make informed and responsible decisions.
Environmental education does not advocate a particular viewpoint or
course of action.
EPA will not fund projects that are solely designed to develop or
disseminate environmental ``information.'' Environmental information
provides facts or opinions about environmental issues or problems, but
may not enhance critical-thinking, problem-solving, or decision-making
skills. Although information is an essential element of any educational
effort, environmental information is not, by itself, environmental
education.
C. Due Date and Grant Schedule
An original proposal signed by an authorized representative plus
two copies, must be mailed to EPA postmarked no later than November 15,
1997. Proposals which are postmarked after that date will not be
considered for funding. EPA expects to announce the 1998 grant awards
in the Spring of 1998. Applicants should anticipate project start dates
no earlier than Summer and, for planning purposes, may use July 1,
1998, as the start date.
D. Addresses for Mailing Proposals
Proposals requesting over $25,000 in federal environmental
education grant funds must be mailed to EPA headquarters in Washington,
DC; proposals requesting $25,000 or less must be mailed to the EPA
regional office where the project takes place. The headquarters address
and the list of regional office mailing addresses by state is included
at the end of this notice. Proposals submitted to EPA headquarters and
regional offices will be evaluated using the same criteria, as defined
in this solicitation.
E. Funding Limits Per Proposal
Since implementation of this grants program in 1992, there has been
a great deal of public enthusiasm for developing environmental
education projects. Consequently, EPA has consistently received many
more applications for these grants than can be supported with available
funds. The competition for grants is intense, especially at
headquarters where in past years approximately 5% of proposals received
have been funded. Regional offices generally fund less than 10% of
proposals they receive for over $5,000 and about 15% of proposals for
$5,000 or less.
Although the Act sets a maximum limit of $250,000 in environmental
education grant funds for any one project, because of limited funds,
EPA prefers to award smaller grants to more recipients. Proposals
submitted to the EPA Regions have a better chance of being funded, in
part because under Section 6(i) of the Act, EPA is required to award
25% of the total amount of its grant funds for projects which request
$5,000 or less. Consequently, most regional grants are for $5,000 or
less. You will significantly increase your chance of being funded if
you request $5,000 or less from a Regional Office or $150,000 or less
from headquarters.
Section II. Eligible Applicants and Activities
F. Eligible Applicants
Any local or tribal government education agency, state government
education or environmental agency, college or university, not-for-
profit organization as described in Section 501 (C)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, or noncommercial educational broadcasting entity may
submit a proposal. A teacher's school district, an educator's nonprofit
organization, or a faculty member's college or university may apply,
but an individual teacher, educator, or faculty member may not. These
terms are defined in Section 3 of the Act and 40 CFR Part 47.105.
``Tribal education agency'' means a school or community college which
is controlled by an Indian tribe, band, or nation, which is recognized
as eligible for special programs and services provided by the United
States to Indians because of their status as Indians and which is not
administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
G. Multiple or Repeat Proposals
An organization may submit more than one proposal if the proposals
are for different projects. No organization will be awarded more than
one grant for the same project during the same fiscal year. Applicants
who were awarded funds in the past may submit new proposals to expand a
previously funded project or to fund an entirely different one. Each
new proposal will be evaluated based upon the specific criteria set
forth in this solicitation and in relation to the other proposals
received in this fiscal year. Due to limited resources, EPA does not
generally sustain projects beyond the initial grant period. This grant
program is geared toward providing seed money to initiate new projects
or to advance existing projects that are new in some way, such as to
new audiences or in new locations.
H. Eligible Activities
As specified under the Act, environmental education activities that
are eligible for funding under this program include, but are not
limited to, the following:
[[Page 44861]]
1. Training or educating teachers, faculty, or related personnel;
2. Designing and demonstrating field methods, educational practices
and techniques, including assessing environmental and ecological
conditions or specific environmental issues or problems;
3. Designing, demonstrating, or disseminating environmental
curricula (see next paragraph); and
4. Fostering international cooperation in addressing environmental
issues and problems in the United States, Canada, and/or Mexico.
Curricula: Regarding Item 3 above, EPA strongly encourages
applicants to demonstrate or disseminate existing environmental
curricula rather than designing new curricula because experts indicate
that a significant amount of quality curricula have already been
developed and are under-utilized. EPA will consider funding new
curricula only where the applicant demonstrates that there is a need
(e.g., that existing curricula cannot be adapted well to a particular
local environmental concern or audience, or existing curricula are not
otherwise accessible). The applicant must specify what steps they have
taken to determine this need (e.g., you may cite a conference where
this need was discussed, the results of inquiries made within your
community or with various educational institutions, or a research paper
or other published document).
I. Ineligible Activities
Environmental education funds cannot be used for:
1. Construction projects;
2. Technical training of environmental management professionals;
3. Non-educational research and development; and/or
4. Environmental information projects that have no educational
component, as explained in Section I(B).
Regarding Item (1) above, EPA will not fund construction activities
such as the acquisition of real property (e.g., buildings) or the
construction or modification of any building. EPA may, however, fund
activities such as creating a nature trail or building a bird watching
station as long as these items are an integral part of the
environmental education project, and the cost is a relatively small
percentage of the total amount of federal funds requested.
Section III. Funding Priorities
J. EPA Educational Priorities
All proposals must satisfy the definition of ``environmental
education'' under Section I(B) and also satisfy one of the following
EPA educational priorities. Effective this year, EPA Headquarters will
fund projects for more than $25,000 in only the three categories listed
below; and regional offices will fund projects of $25,000 or less in
the six categories listed below. The order of the list is random and
does not indicate a ranking.
Headquarters Priorities
Health: Educating teachers, students, parents, community leaders,
or the public about human-health threats from environmental pollution,
especially as it affects children.
Capacity Building/Education Reform: Increasing state, local, or
tribal capacity to develop and deliver coordinated environmental
education programs and/or utilizing environmental education as a
catalyst to advance state, local, or tribal education reform and
improvement goals.
Community Issues: Designing and implementing model projects to
educate the public about environmental issues in their communities
through community-based organizations or through print, film,
broadcast, or other media.
Regional Office Priorities
Health: Educating teachers, students, parents, community leaders,
or the public about human-health threats from environmental pollution,
especially as it affects children.
Capacity Building/Education Reform: Increasing state, local, or
tribal capacity to develop and deliver coordinated environmental
education programs and/or utilizing environmental education as a
catalyst to advance state, local, or tribal education reform and
improvement goals.
Community Issues: Educating the public about environmental issues
in their communities through community-based organizations or through
print, film, broadcast, or other media.
Teaching Skills: Educating teachers, faculty, or nonformal
educators about environmental issues to improve their environmental
education teaching skills (e.g., through workshops).
Career Development: Educating students in formal or nonformal
settings about environmental issues to encourage environmental careers.
Environmental Justice: Educating low-income or culturally-diverse
audiences about environmental issues, thereby advancing environmental
justice.
Definitions
The terms used above and in Section IV are defined as follows:
New or significantly improved includes projects that reach a
specific audience or community for the first time, develop a new or
improved teaching strategy, or use a new or improved method of applying
existing materials.
Wide application pertains to a project that targets a large and
diverse audience in terms of numbers or demographics; or that can serve
as a model program elsewhere.
High priority environmental issue is one that is important to the
community, state, or region being targeted by the project (e.g., one
community may have significant air pollution problems which makes
teaching about human health effects from it and solutions to air
pollution important, while rapid development in another community may
threaten a nearby wildlife habitat, thus making habitat or ecosystem
protection a high priority issue).
Partnerships refers to the forming of a collaborative working
relationship between two or more organizations such as governmental
agencies, not-for-profit organizations, educational institutions, and/
or the private sector. It may also refer to intra-organizational unions
such as the science and art departments within a university
collaborating on a project.
Building, state, local, or tribal capacity refers to developing or
improving the infrastructure needed to enhance the coordinated delivery
of environmental education at the state, local, or tribal level. This
should involve a coordinated effort by the major education and
environmental education providers from the respective state, locality,
or tribe in the planning and implementation of the project (e.g., state
education and natural resource departments, local school districts and
boards, professional education and environmental education associations
or coordinating councils, as well as nonprofit education and
environmental education organizations) and may also include other types
of organizations and private businesses as partners. Examples of how to
build state, local, or tribal capacity include, but are not limited to,
the following:
--Identifying and assessing needs and setting priorities;
--Evaluating current programs and links among programs;
--Developing and implementing coordinated strategic plans;
--Identifying funding sources and creating grant programs;
--Identifying existing resources, developing databases of such
resources, and disseminating these resources and information;
[[Page 44862]]
--Establishing or enhancing on-line communications to facilitate
networking among organizations;
--Ensuring sustained professional development activities; and/or
--Holding leadership seminars and other types of training.
Education reform and improvement refers to state, local, or tribal
efforts to improve student academic achievement and to equip students
with the necessary knowledge and skills to be lifelong learners. Your
proposal should clearly describe what your state, local, or tribal
educational reform and improvement needs and goals are, and how they
relate to your environmental education project. Examples of possible
reform and improvement strategies to which the proposed environmental
education program might be linked include, but are not limited to, the
following:
--Curricular and instructional innovations, such as more emphasis on
inquiry and problem-solving;
--Learning experiences that have practical application in the real
world;
--Project-based learning;
--Team building and group decision-making;
--Interdisciplinary study;
--Development of new high content and performance standards;
--Design of corresponding assessment systems and the realignment of
curriculum and instructional practice to the new high standards and
assessment systems;
--Use of technology in promoting learning;
--Implementation of sustained and intensive professional development
activities; and/or
--Creation of family and community partnerships.
Human health threats from environmental pollution as used here is
intended to address recommended actions stated in EPA's ``National
Agenda to Protect Children's Health from Environmental Threats.'' The
action reads as follows ``We call on American parents, teachers and
community leaders to take personal responsibility for learning about
the hazards that environmental problems pose to our children--and
provide them with the information they need to help protect children
from those risks at home, at school and at play. An informed, involved
local community does a better job of making environmental decisions
than a distant bureaucracy--and never more so than when it comes to our
children. Parents, teachers and community leaders can and should play a
vital, day-to-day role in learning about the particular environmental
hazards their children face in their own communities, and then use that
knowledge to make more informed decisions that prevent environmental
health problems and protect children.'' Therefore, through this
solicitation, EPA encourages environmental education projects to
educate the public about environmental hazards and how to minimize
human exposure to preserve good health.
Environmental justice refers to EPA's goal to encourage applicants
to submit proposals that include efforts to target low-income and
culturally-diverse populations, thereby promoting environmental
justice. The term environmental justice refers to the fair treatment of
people of all races, cultures, and income with respect to the
development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws,
regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no racial, ethnic,
or socioeconomic group should bear a disproportionate share of the
negative environmental consequences that might result from the
operation of industrial, municipal, and commercial enterprises and from
the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and
policies. An example would be an education project directed at an
environmental problem with a disproportionately high and adverse human
health or environmental impact in a low-income or culturally-diverse
community.
Section IV. Requirements for Proposals and Matching Funds
K. Contents of Proposal
The proposal must contain two standard federal forms, a work plan
with a detailed budget, and appendices, as described below:
Federal Forms: Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and
Budget Information (SF-424A): The SF-424 and SF-424A are required for
all federal grants and must be submitted as part of your proposal.
These forms, along with instructions and samples, are included at the
end of this notice. Only finalists will be asked to submit additional
federal forms needed to process their proposal.
Work Plan: A work plan describes your proposed project. It must
include and be formatted according to all five sections described
below. When the proposals are scored, the total number of points
possible for each proposal is 100. Each of the following five sections
of the work plan are assigned points which add up to 90. Reviewers will
be given the flexibility to provide up to 10 extra points for
exceptional projects based upon the overall quality of the proposal,
evidence that EPA's priorities will be effectively advanced by the
project and that it will provide a good return on the investment.
Examples of factors for extra points include strong partnerships,
creative use of resources, and sustainability of the project.
(1) Project Summary: Provide an overview of your entire project in
this format. The summary must briefly cover the following and fit on
one page:
(a) Organization: Describe your organization (and list your key
partners for this grant, if applicable). Partnerships are encouraged
and considered to be a major factor in the success of projects.
(b) Summary Statement: Provide an overview of your project that
explains the concept and your goals and objectives. This should be a
very basic explanation in layman's terms to provide a reviewer with an
understanding of the purpose and expected outcome of your educational
project.
(c) Educational Priority: Identify which EPA priority listed in
Section III you will address, such as education reform. Proposals may
address several educational priorities, however, EPA cautions against
losing focus on projects. Evaluation panels often select projects with
a clearly defined purpose, rather than projects that attempt to address
multiple priorities at the expense of a quality outcome.
(d) Audience: Describe the demographics of your target audience
including the number and types you expect to reach, such as, teachers,
students, specific grade levels, ethnic composition, members of the
general public, etc.
(e) Delivery Method: Explain how you will reach your audience, such
as workshops, conferences, interactive programs, etc.
(f) Costs: List the types of activities for which EPA funds will be
spent. The project summary will be scored on how well you provide an
overview of your entire project using the topics stated above.
Project Summary Maximum Score: 10 points
(2) Project Description: Explain how your proposed project meets
these mandatory requirements for funding:
(a) Addresses a high priority environmental issue, such as clean
air, ecosystem protection, or cross-cutting issues; and the importance
of the issues to your community, state or region;
(b) Addresses at least one of EPA's educational priorities listed
in Section
[[Page 44863]]
III, such as education reform or children's health;
(c) Is new or significantly improved; and
(d) Has the potential for wide application.
Describe precisely what your project will achieve--how, when, why,
and who will benefit. Explain the strategy, objectives, activities,
delivery methods, and outcomes in enough detail to answer questions in
a reviewer's mind. Include a ``timeline'' to link your activities and
products to a clear project schedule and lay them out over the months
of your budget period.
This subsection will be scored on how clearly you describe your
project and how effectively your project meets the following five
criteria: (1) addresses an EPA educational priority; (2) establishes
realistic goals and objectives; (3) identifies its target audience and
demonstrates an understanding of the needs of that audience, including
cultural diversity where appropriate; (4) uses an effective delivery
method for reaching the target audience, and also has the potential for
wide application; and (5) demonstrates that it uses or produces quality
educational products or methods which teach critical-thinking, problem-
solving, and decision-making skills.
Project Description Maximum Score: 50 points (10 points for each of the
five elements identified above)
(3) Project Evaluation: Explain how you will ensure that you are
meeting the goals and objectives of your project. Evaluation plans may
be quantitative and/or qualitative and may include, for example,
surveys, observation, or outside consultation.
The project evaluation will be scored on the extent to which your
plan will: (a) Measure the project's effectiveness; and b) apply
evaluation data gathered during your project to strengthen it.
Project Evaluation Maximum Score: 10 Points (5 Points for Each of the
two Elements Identified Above)
(4) Budget: Describe how EPA funds and non-federal matching funds
will be used for personnel/salaries, fringe benefits, travel,
equipment, supplies, contract costs, and indirect costs. Include a
table which lists each major proposed activity, and the amount of EPA
funds and/or matching funds that will be spent on each activity.
Smaller grants with uncomplicated budgets may have a table that lists
only a few activities. Budget periods not to exceed one-year are
preferred by EPA for all grants and are mandatory for small grants of
$5,000 or less. Budget periods for larger grants cannot exceed two-
years.
Please Note the following funding limitations:
--Indirect costs may be requested only if your organization has already
negotiated and received a currently valid ``indirect cost rate'' from a
cognizant federal agency.
--Funds for salaries and fringe benefits may be requested only for
those personnel who are directly involved in implementing the proposed
project and whose salaries and fringe benefits are directly related to
specific products or outcomes of the proposed project. EPA strongly
encourages applicants to request competitive amounts of funding for
salaries and fringe benefits.
--EPA will not fund the acquisition of real property (including
buildings) or the construction or modification of any building.
Matching Funds Requirement: Non-federal matching funds of at least
25% of the total cost of the project are required, and EPA encourages
matching funds of greater than 25%. The 25% match may be provided by
the applicant or another organization or institution, and may be
provided in cash or by in-kind contributions and other non-cash
support. In-kind contributions often include salaries or other
verifiable costs and this value must be carefully documented. In the
case of salaries, applicants may use either minimum wage or fair market
value.
Important: The matching non-federal share is a percentage of the
entire cost of the project. For example, if the 75% federal portion
is $5,000, then the entire project should, at a minimum, have a
budget of $6,667, with the recipient providing a contribution of
$1,667. To assure that your match is sufficient, simply divide the
Federally requested amount by three. Your match must be at one-third
of the requested amount to be sufficient. The proposed match,
including the value of in-kind contributions, is subject to
negotiation with EPA. All grants are subject to federal audit.
Other Federal Funds: You may use other federal funds in addition to
those provided by this program, but only for different activities. You
may not use any federal funds to meet any part of the required 25%
match described above, unless it is specifically authorized by statute.
If you have already been awarded federal funds for a project for which
you are seeking additional support from this program, you must indicate
those funds in the budget section of the work plan. You must also
identify the project officer, agency, office, address, phone number,
and the amount of the federal funds.
This subsection will be scored on: (a) How well the budget
information clearly and accurately shows how funds will be used; and
(b) whether the funding request is reasonable given the activities
proposed.
Budget Maximum Score: 10 Points (5 Points for Each of the two Elements
Identified Above)
(5) Appendices: Key Personnel and Letters of Commitment: Attach one
or two page resumes for up to three key personnel implementing the
project. If there are partners, include one page letters of commitment
from partners explaining their role in the proposed project. Do not
include letters of endorsement or recommendation; they will not be
considered in evaluating proposals. Please do not submit other
appendices or attachments such as video tapes or sample curricula.
This subsection will be scored based upon whether resumes of key
personnel are included and whether the key personnel are qualified to
implement the proposed project. In addition, the score will reflect
whether letters of commitment are included (if partners are used) and
the extent to which a firm commitment is made.
Appendices Maximum Score: 10 Points
L. Page Limits
Your work plan may include the following number of pages for
federal fund requests for:
1. $25,000 or less: EPA prefers a work plan of 3 pages, but will
accept up to 5 pages.
2. Above $25,000: a work plan of up to 10 pages.
These page limits apply only to the work plan (i.e., the Summary,
Project Description, Project Evaluation and Budget), not the
Appendices. ``One page'' refers to one side of a single-spaced typed
page. The pages must be letter sized (8\1/2\ X 11 inches), with normal
type size (10 or 12 cpi) and at least 1 inch margins. To conserve
paper, please provide double-sided copies of the proposal.
M. Submission Requirements and Copies
The applicant must submit one original and two copies of the
proposal (a signed SF-424, an SF-424A, a work plan, a budget, and
appendices). Do not include other attachments such as cover letters,
tables of contents, or appendices other than resumes and letters of
commitment. The SF-424 should be the first page of your proposal and
must be signed by a person authorized to receive funds. Blue ink for
signatures is
[[Page 44864]]
preferred. Proposals must be reproducible; they should not be bound.
They should be stapled or clipped once in the upper left hand corner,
on white paper, and with page numbers. Mailing addresses are listed at
the end of this notice.
N. Regulatory References
The Environmental Education Grant Program Regulations, published in
the Federal Register on March 9, 1992, provide additional information
on EPA's administration of this program (57 Federal Register 8390;
Title 40 CFR, Part 47 or 40 CFR Part 47). Also, EPA's general
assistance regulations at 40 CFR Part 31 applies to state, local, and
Indian tribal governments and 40 CFR Part 30 applies to all other
applicants such as nonprofit organizations.
Section V. Review and Selection Process
O. Proposal Review
Proposals will be reviewed in two phases--the screening phase and
the evaluation phase. During the screening phase, proposals will be
reviewed to determine whether they meet the basic requirements of this
notice. Only those proposals which meet all of the basic requirements
will enter the evaluation phase of the review process. During the
evaluation phase, proposals will be evaluated based upon the quality of
their work plans. Reviewers conducting the screening and evaluation
phases of the review process will include EPA officials and external
environmental educators approved by EPA. At the conclusion of the
evaluation phase, the reviewers will score work plans based upon the
scoring system identified in Section IV.
P. Final Selections
After individual projects are evaluated and scored by reviewers, as
described under Section IV, EPA officials in the regions and at
headquarters will select a diverse range of finalists from the highest
ranking proposals. In making the final selections, EPA will take into
account the following:
1. Effectiveness of collaborative activities and partnerships, as
needed to successfully develop or implement the project;
2. Environmental and educational importance of the activity or
product;
3. Effectiveness of the delivery mechanism (i.e., workshop,
conference, etc.);
4. Cost effectiveness of the proposal; and
5. Geographic distribution of projects.
Q. Notification to Applicants
Applicants will receive a confirmation that EPA has received their
proposal once EPA has received all proposals and entered them into a
computerized database, usually within two months of receipt. EPA will
notify applicants again after awards have been announced.
Section VI. Grantees Responsibilities
R. Responsible Recipients
The Act requires that projects be performed by the applicant or by
a person satisfactory to the applicant and EPA. All proposals must
identify any person other than the applicant who will assist in
carrying out the project. These individuals are responsible for
receiving the grant award agreement from EPA and ensuring that all
grant conditions are satisfied. Recipients are responsible for the
successful completion of the project.
S. Incurring Costs
Grant recipients may begin incurring costs on the start date
identified in the EPA grant award agreement. Activities must be
completed and funds spent within the time frames specified in the
document.
T. Reports and Work Products
Specific reporting requirements will be identified in the EPA grant
award agreement. Grant recipients with a federal environmental
education grant greater than $25,000 will be required to submit semi-
annual progress reports; and grantees for less may be required to
submit semi-annual reports. Grant recipients will submit two copies of
their final report and two copies of all work products to the EPA
project officer within 30 days after the expiration of the budget
period. This report will be accepted as the final report unless the EPA
project officer notifies you that changes must be made.
EPA plans to assemble a library of final reports and work products
at headquarters in Washington, D.C. EPA also plans to evaluate these
final reports and work products and disseminate those that serve as
model programs.
Section VII. Other Information and Mailing List
U. Internet Access
You can view and download this solicitation notice, a list of EPA
environmental education contacts, and descriptions of past projects
funded under this program and information on other education resource
materials from: ``http://eelink.umich.edu'' or ``http://
www.nceet.snre.umich.edu/grant.html''
If you receive this solicitation electronically and if the standard
federal forms for Application (SF-424) and Budget (SF-424A) are not
available or cannot be printed, you may locate them the following ways:
The Federal Register in which this Notice is published contains the
forms and is available to be copied at many public libraries; many
federal offices use the forms and have copies available; or you may
call or write the appropriate EPA office listed at the end of this
Notice.
V. Other Funding
Please note that this is a very competitive grants program. Limited
funding is available and many grant applications are expected to be
received. Therefore, the Agency cannot fund all applications. If your
project is not funded, a listing of other EPA grant programs may be
found in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. This publication
is available at local libraries, colleges, or universities.
W. Classification of Notice
Under 5 U.S.C. 801 (a)(1)(A) as added by the Small Business
Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, EPA submitted a report
containing this rule and other required information to the U.S. Senate,
the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the
General Accounting Office prior to publication of this rule in today's
Federal Register. This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5
U.S.C. 804 (2).
Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq., the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements contained in this solicitation and
has assigned OMB control number 2030-0006.
X. Mailing List for 1999 Environmental Education Grants
EPA develops an entirely new mailing list for the grants program
each year. The Fiscal Year 1999 mailing list will include all
applicants who submitted proposals for 1998 and anyone who specifically
requests the 1999 Solicitation Notice. If you do not submit a proposal
for 1998 and wish to be added to our 1999 mailing list, please mail
your request--please do not telephone--along with your name,
organization, address, and phone number to: U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Environmental Education Division (1707),
Environmental Education Grants Program (FY 1999), 401 M Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20460.
[[Page 44865]]
Dated: August 15, 1997.
Diane Esanu,
Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Communications, Education,
and Public Affairs.
Mailing Addresses and Information
Applicants who need more information about this grant program or
clarification about specific requirements in this solicitation notice,
may contact the EPA Environmental Education Division in Washington,
D.C. for grant requests of more than $25,000 or the EPA regional office
for grant requests of $25,000 or less.
U.S. EPA Headquarters--For Proposals Requesting More Than $25,000
Mail proposals to: U.S. EPA, Env Ed Grants, Environmental Education
Division (1707), Office of Communications, Education, and Public
Affairs, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.
Information: Diane Berger and Sheri Jojokian, Environmental Education
Specialists, 202-260-8619.
U.S. EPA Regional Offices--For Proposals Requesting $25,000 or Less
Mail the proposal to the Regional Office where the project will
take place, rather than where the applicant is located, if these
locations are different.
EPA Region I--CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
Mail proposals to: U.S. EPA, Region I, Env Ed Grants, Grants Management
Office, JFK Federal Building (MGM), Boston, MA 02203.
Hand-deliver to: One Congress Street, 11th Floor Mail Room, Boston, MA
(M-F 8am-4pm).
Information: Maria Pirie, EE Coordinator, 617-565-9447, Angela
Bonarrigo, 617-565-2501.
EPA Region II--NJ, NY, PR, VI
Mail proposals to: U.S. EPA, Region II, Env Ed Grants, Grants and
Contracts Management Branch, 290 Broadway, 27th Floor, New York, NY
10007-1866.
Information: Teresa Ippolito, EE Coordinator, 212-637-3671.
EPA Region III--DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV
Mail proposals to: U.S. EPA, Region III, Env Ed Grants, Grants
Management Section (3PM70), 841 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
19107.
Information: Nan Ides, EE Office, 215-566-5546.
EPA Region IV--AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN
Mail proposals to: U.S. EPA, Region IV, Env Ed Grants, Office of Public
Affairs, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303.
Information: Fred Thornburg, EE Office, 404-562-8317.
EPA Region V--IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
Mail proposals to: U.S. EPA, Region V, Env Ed Grants, Grants Management
Section (MC-10J), 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604.
Information: Julie Moriarty, EE Office, 312-353-5789, Suzanne Saric, EE
Coordinator, 312-353-3209.
Region VI--AR, LA, NM, OK, TX
Mail proposals to: U.S. EPA, Region VI, Env Ed Grants (6XA), 1445 Ross
Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202.
Information: Jo Taylor, EE Coordinator, 214-665-2200.
Region VII--IA, KS, MO, NE
Mail proposal to: U.S. EPA, Region VII, Env Ed Grants, Grants
Administration Division, 726 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101.
Information: Rowena Michaels, EE Coordinator, 913-551-7003.
Region VIII--CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY
Mail proposals to: U.S. EPA, Region VIII, Env Ed Grants, 999 18th
Street (80C), Denver, CO 80202-2466.
Information: Cece Forget, EE Coordinator, 303-312-6605.
Region IX--AZ, CA, HI, NV, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas
Mail proposals to: U.S. EPA, Region IX, Env Ed Grants, Office of
Communications and Government Relations (CGR-3), 75 Hawthorne Street,
San Francisco, CA 94105.
Information: Matt Gaffney, Office of Communications and Government
Relations (OCGR), 415-744-1166.
Region X--AK, ID, OR, WA
Mail proposals to: U.S. EPA,
Region X, Env Ed Grants, Public Information Center, 1200 Sixth Avenue
(EXA-142A), Seattle, WA 98101.
Information: Sally Hanft, EE Coordinator, 1-800-424-4EPA, 206-553-1207.
Instructions for the SF 424--Application
This is a standard Federal form to be used by applicants as a
required facesheet for the Environmental Education Grants Program.
These instructions have been modified for this program only and do not
apply to any other Federal program.
1. Check the box marked ``Non-Construction'' under ``Application''.
2. Date application submitted to Federal agency (or State if
applicable) & applicant's control number (if applicable).
3. State use only (if applicable).
4. If you are currently funded for a related project, enter present
Federal identifier number. If not, leave blank.
5. Legal name of applicant organization, name of primary
organizational unit which will undertake the grant activity, complete
address of the applicant organization, and name and telephone number of
the person to contact on matters related to this application.
6. Enter Employer Identification Number (EIN) as assigned by the
Internal Revenue Service. You can obtain this number from your payroll
office. It is the same Federal Identification Number which appears on
W-2 forms. If your organization does not have a number, you may obtain
one by calling the Taxpayer Services number for the IRS.
7. Enter the appropriate letter in the space provided.
8. Check the box marked ``new'' since all proposals must be for new
projects.
9. Enter U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
10. Enter 66.951 Environmental Education Grants Program.
11. Enter a brief descriptive title of the project.
12. List only the largest areas affected by the project (e.g.,
State, counties, cities).
13. Self-explanatory (See Section IV (K) (4) in Notice).
14. In (a) list the Congressional District where the applicant
organization is located; and in (b) any District(s) affected by the
program or project. If your project covers many areas, several
congressional districts will be listed. If it covers the entire state,
simply put in STATEWIDE. If you are not sure about the congressional
district, call the County Voter Registration Department.
15. Amount requested or to be contributed during the funding/budget
period by each contributor. Line (a) is for the amount of money you are
requesting from EPA. Lines (b-e) are for the amounts either you or
another organization are providing for this project. Line (f) is for
any program income which you expect will be generated by this project.
Examples of program income are fees for services performed, income
generated from the sale of a brochure produced with the grant funds, or
admission fees to a conference financed by the grant funds. The total
of lines (b-e) must be at least 25% of line (g), as this grant has a
match requirement of 25% of the TOTAL ALLOWABLE PROJECT COSTS. Value
[[Page 44866]]
of in-kind contributions should be included on appropriate lines as
applicable. If both basic and supplemental amounts are included, show
breakdown on an attached Budget sheet. For multiple program funding,
use totals and show breakdown using same categories as item 15.
16. Check (b) (NO) since your application does not have to be sent
through the state clearinghouse for review.
17. This question applies to the applicant organization, not the
person who signs as the authorized representative. Categories of debt
include delinquent audit disallowances, loans and taxes.
18. The authorized representative is the person who is able to
contract or obligate your agency to the terms and conditions of the
grant. (Please sign with blue ink.) A copy of the governing body's
authorization for you to sign this application as official
representative must be on file in the applicant's office.
Instructions for the SF-424A-Budget
This is a standard Federal form used by applicants as a basic
budget. These instructions have been modified for this grant program
only and do not apply to any other Federal Program.
Do NOT fill in Section A--Budget Summary.
Complete Section B--Budget Categories--Columns (1), (2) and (5).
For each major program, function or activity, fill in the total
requirements for funds by object class categories.
All applications should contain a breakdown by the relevant object
class categories shown in Lines (a-h): Columns (1), (2), and (5) of
Section B. Include Federal funds in Column (1) and non-Federal
(matching) funds in Column (2), and put the totals in Column (1) and
non-Federal (matching) funds in Column (2), and put the totals in
Column (5). Many applications will not have entries in all object class
categories.
Line 6i--Show the totals of lines 6a through 6h in each column.
Line 6j--Show the amount of indirect costs. (To be applicable, you
must have a currently valid ``indirect cost rate'' from a Federal
agency.)
Line 6k--Enter the total of amounts of Lines 6i and 6j.
Line 7--Program Income--Enter the estimated amount of income, if
any, expected to be generated from this project. Do not add or subtract
this amount from the total project amount. Describe the nature and
source of income in the detailed budget description.
Detailed Itemization of Costs: The proposal must also contain a
detailed budget description as specified in the Notice in Section IV
(K) (4), and should conform to the following:
Personnel: List all participants in the project by position title.
Give the percentage of the budget period for which they will be fully
employed on the project (e.g., half-time for half the budget period
equals 25 percent, full-time for half the budget period equals 50
percent, etc.). Give the annual salary and the total cost over the
budget period for all personnel listed.
Travel: If travel is budgeted, show destination and purpose of
travel as well as costs.
Equipment: Identify all equipment to be purchased and for what
purpose it will be used.
Supplies: If the supply budget is less than 2% of total costs, you
do not need to itemize.
Contractual: Specify the nature and cost of such services. EPA may
require review of contracts for personal services prior to their
execution to assure that all costs are reasonable and necessary to the
project.
Construction: Not allowable for this program.
Other: Specify all other costs under this category.
Indirect Costs: Provide an explanation of how indirect charges were
calculated for this project.
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
[[Page 44867]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22AU97.008
[[Page 44868]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22AU97.009
[[Page 44869]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22AU97.010
[[Page 44870]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22AU97.011
[FR Doc. 97-22365 Filed 8-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6500-50-PC
