[Federal Register: March 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 43)]
[Notices]
[Page 11011-11012]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07mr05-66]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7881-3]
Partnership To Promote Innovation in Environmental Practice,
Notice of Availability and Request for Proposals
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of availability of solicitation for proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency's National Center for
Environmental Innovation (NCEI) is giving notice of the availability of
its solicitation for proposals from institutions that are interested in
promoting innovations that can improve environmental results from State
and Federal programs. EPA is seeking proposals to explore innovative
environmental policies practices and to support mechanisms by which new
approaches can be shared and discussed by federal and state
environmental practitioners. The goal is to increase understanding of
new approaches, to facilitate use of proven concepts, and to encourage
more innovation in environmental programs. EPA anticipates awarding one
cooperative agreement under this solicitation. The amount of the award
will be $300,000 for a period of up to four years. Eligible recipients
include States, territories, Indian Tribes, interstate organizations,
intrastate organizations, and possessions of the U.S., including the
District of Columbia, public and private universities and colleges,
hospitals, laboratories, other public or private nonprofit
institutions, and individuals. Nonprofit organizations described in
section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engage in lobbying
activities as defined in section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of
1995 are not eligible to apply. For profit organizations are generally
not eligible for funding.
DATES: Interested applicants have until April 21, 2005 to submit a
proposal.
ADDRESSES: Due to heightened security requirements, there may be
substantial delays in mail service to EPA Hence, EPA strongly
encourages applicants to send applications electronically. Electronic
applications must be sent to State_Innovation_Grants@epa.gov.
Applicants choosing to submit paper applications should mail one
original and two copies to the EPA contact, Sandy Germann. Please also
note that the delivery address varies depending on whether you are
using regular mail or using a delivery service (e.g., Federal Express,
Courier, UPS). If you are using a delivery service, send it to Sandy
Germann, U.S. EPA, U.S. EPA, Room 645C, 4930 Page Road, Research
Triangle Park, NC 27703. If you are sending the application via regular
mail, send it to Sandy Germann, U.S. EPA, MC C604-02, Research Triangle
Park, NC 27711.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Germann, U.S. EPA, MC C604-02,
RTP, NC 27711, (919 541-3061), germann.sandy@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA's National Center for Environmental
Innovation (NCEI) promotes new ways to achieve better environmental
results. NCEI's work includes developing and testing new approaches,
evaluating how well new approaches work, and sharing and applying the
lessons learned to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of
environmental programs. Consistent with EPA's Innovation Strategy
(http://www.epa.gov/innovation/strategy.htm), NCEI is especially
interested in supporting State innovation. In 2000, EPA sponsored the
first State/EPA
[[Page 11012]]
Environmental Innovation Symposium to showcase environmental
innovations that can improve environmental results in State programs. A
second symposium was held in 2003. (Information about these events can
be found at http://www.epa.gov/innovation/symposia.htm.) Evaluations
from these events, along with discussion with State commissioners,
indicate that States have a strong interest in additional symposia that
allow them to share experiences and results from innovative
environmental programs and policies.
While EPA will have participants at the symposia, the primary goal
of this project is to identify and highlight environmental innovations
that can help States learn about new ways to achieve better
environmental results. To this end, the project should be designed to:
--Identify and showcase successful, innovative projects and programs
that have accomplished important environmental results at the Federal,
state, and local levels;
--Facilitate information transfer so that proven approaches can be used
by other States and federal programs to achieve environmental results;
--Stimulate ideas for new innovative initiatives and pilot projects;
--Enable discussion about specific issues facing innovators, such as
how to replicate successful innovations on a larger scale (e.g., from a
pilot project at one facility to a program for the entire sector) or in
other programs (e.g., from use in the air program to the water
program), and how to sustain innovations over time so that projects
continue evolving to reflect new knowledge, experience, and/or
technology;
--Expand the network of State and federal environmental practitioners
who are interested in applying and advancing new approaches to
environmental protection.
The work will involve planning up to two symposia over a four-year
period that bring together State and EPA environmental practitioners to
share information and engage in a dialogue about experiences and policy
issues related to innovative approaches. Planning will be done by a
Steering Committee consisting of representatives from the recipient,
EPA and States. The Steering Committee, which will have a majority
State membership, will assist with analyzing environmental innovations,
developing symposia agendas, identifying appropriate speakers and
presenters, and promoting the event within their respective
organizations.
EPA is interested in supporting the first symposia in late 2005,
and a second symposium approximately two years later. In addition to
organizing the symposia, the recipient will compile all information
presented at the symposia on a publicly available web site. These
resources will help extend the learning that occurs at the symposia to
other State and EPA employees, as well as other interested
stakeholders.
For the full solicitation, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/innovation/symposia
.
Dated: February 18, 2005.
Elizabeth A. Shaw,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy Innovation.
[FR Doc. 05-4261 Filed 3-4-05; 8:45 am]
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