[Federal Register: April 28, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 81)]
[Notices]
[Page 22036-22042]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28ap05-73]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-2005-0006; FRL-7703-2]
Tribal Pesticide and Special Projects; Request for Proposals
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), in coordination with
the EPA regional offices, is soliciting pesticide and special project
proposals from eligible Tribes, Alaska native villages, and intertribal
consortia for fiscal year (FY) 2005 funding. Under this program,
cooperative agreement awards will provide financial assistance to
eligible Tribal governments, Alaska native village governments, or
intertribal consortia to carry out projects that assess or reduce risks
to human health and the environment from pesticide exposure. The total
amount of funding available for award in FY 2005 is expected to be
approximately $445,000, with a maximum funding level of $50,000 per
project.
DATES: Proposals must be received by EPA on or before 5 p.m. eastern
standard time, June 13, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Proposals may be submitted to your EPA regional office by
mail. An electronic copy of the proposal is also required and may be
sent via e-mail to the regional contact. Please follow the detailed
instructions provided in Unit V.1. of the Supplementary Information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Georgia McDuffie, Field and External
Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 605-0195; e-mail address:
mcduffie.georgia@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview Information
The following listing provides certain key information concerning
this funding opportunity.
[[Page 22037]]
Federal agency name: Environmental Protection Agency.
Funding opportunity title: Tribal Pesticide and Special
Projects: Request for Proposals.
Funding opportunity number: OPP-007.
Announcement type: The initial announcement of a funding
opportunity.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: This
program is included in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under
number 66.716 at http://www.cfda.gov.
Dates: Applications must be received by EPA on or before
June 13, 2005.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
A. Authority
EPA expects to enter into grants and cooperative agreements under
the authority provided in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Section 20 of FIFRA authorizes the Agency to
issue grants or cooperative agreements for research, public education,
training, monitoring, demonstration, and studies.
The award and administration of these grants will be governed by
the Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative
Agreements to states, Tribes, and local governments set forth at 40 CFR
part 31. Grants awarded pursuant to this solicitation are program
grants subject to the regulations for ``Environmental Program Grants
for Tribes'' set forth at 40 CFR 35.500-35.518. In addition, the
provisions in 40 CFR part 32, governing government wide debarment and
suspension, and the provisions in 40 CFR part 40, regarding
restrictions on lobbying, apply.
All costs incurred under this program must be allowable under the
applicable OMB Cost Circular A-87. Copies of this circular can be found
at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/. In accordance with EPA
policy and the OMB circular, any recipient of funding must agree not to
use assistance funds for fund raising, or political activities such as
lobbying members of Congress or lobbying for other Federal grants,
cooperative agreements, or contracts. See 40 CFR part 40.
B. Program Description
1. Purpose and scope. Cooperative agreements awarded under this
program are intended to provide financial assistance to eligible Tribal
governments or intertribal consortia for projects that assess and/or
reduce the risks of pesticide exposure to human health and the
environment. For this solicitation, the word ``Tribe'' refers to
federally recognized Tribes as well as to federally recognized Alaska
native villages, and an intertribal consortium defined as a partnership
of two or more federally recognized Tribes that is authorized by its
membership to apply for, and receive, assistance under the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
Funds may be used to support new activities that fit the
requirements of this solicitation. Projects may be targeted to any
pesticide-related concern or need facing a Tribe or intertribal
consortium. Although the proposal may request funding for activities
that will further long-term objectives, this program provides one-time
funding, and the maximum period of performance for funded activities is
expected to be approximately 12 months.
2. Goal and objectives. EPA intends that recipients will use
funding provided under this Tribal Pesticide and Special Project
Program to help address the specific, pesticide-related concerns of
their communities. The Agency will consider funding a broad range of
projects that assess or reduce pesticide exposure risks to human health
and the environment in Indian country.
3. History. Since 1997, EPA has provided funding for projects that
supported pesticide management and water quality protection in Indian
country. For the purposes of this solicitation, the term ``Indian
country'' means:
(i) All land within the limits of any Indian reservation under
the jurisdiction of the United States Government, notwithstanding
the issuance of any patent, and including rights-of-way running
throughout the reservation;
(ii) All dependent Indian communities within the borders of the
United States, whether within the original or subsequently acquired
territory thereof, and whether within or without the limits of the
State; and
(iii) All Indian allotments, the Indian titles to which have not
been extinguished, including rights-of-way running through the same.
4. EPA Strategic Plan Linkage and Anticipated Outcomes/Outputs.
i. Linkage to EPA Strategic Plan/GPRA Architecture. These
assistance agreements will support progress towards EPA Strategic Plan
Goal 4--Healthy Communities and Ecosystems; Objective 4.1--Chemical,
Organism and Pesticide Risk; Program/Project 09--Categorical Grants:
Pesticides Program Implementation (STAG).
ii. Outcomes. Through these agreements EPA hopes to work with the
Tribes to assess and/or reduce risks to human health and the
environment from pesticide exposure by funding projects that target
areas of pesticide concern, i.e., water quality, exposure and risk
assessment; effects of pesticides on cultural activities; integrated
pest management, or alternatives to other pesticides.
iii. Outputs. The anticipated output of these tribal projects may
include educational and outreach materials, conferences and training,
and other programs, policies and activities that will result in the
reduction of pesticide exposure.
Each year since 1997, EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, in
coordination with the EPA regional offices, has awarded approximately
$445,000 annually to eligible Tribes and intertribal consortia for
projects supporting pesticide management and water quality goals.
This Federal Register notice provides qualification and application
requirements to parties who may be interested in submitting proposals
for FY 2005 monies. The total amount available for award during this
funding cycle is expected to be approximately $445,000. The maximum
award amount per proposal is set at $50,000, and only one proposal per
applicant will be accepted for consideration. Indirect cost rates will
not increase the $50,000 maximum funding amount.
II. Award Information
Funding for each award recipient will be in the form of a
cooperative agreement for $50,000 or less, under FIFRA section 20 and
section 23(a)(1). Total funding available for award is expected to be
approximately $445,000.
Should additional funding become available for award, the Agency
may make additional monies available, based on this solicitation and in
accordance with the final selection process, without further notice of
competition. The Agency also reserves the right to decrease available
funding for this program, or to make no awards based on this
solicitation. All costs charged to these awards must be allowable under
the applicable OMB Cost Circular, A-87 which may be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/
.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Threshold eligibility factors. To be eligible for consideration,
applicants must meet the following criteria. Failure to meet these
criteria will result in the automatic disqualification of the proposal
for consideration for funding:
Be an applicant who is eligible to receive funding under
this announcement, including federally recognized Tribal governments,
[[Page 22038]]
federally recognized Alaska native villages, or an intertribal
consortium (If you are applying as a consortium, you must provide
verification of your eligibility according to the requirements of Unit
I.B.1.). Only one project proposal may be submitted per applicant.
The proposal must meet all format and content requirements
contained in this Notice.
The proposal submittal must comply with the directions for
submittal contained in this Notice.
2. Eligibility criteria. Applicants will be evaluated on the
following criteria:
i. Projects must be targeted to a pesticide concern or need facing
a Tribe or intertribal consortium, including, but not limited to:
Water quality.
Development/support of exposure and risk assessment
capacity.
Traditional Tribal lifeways/subsistence. Effects of
pesticides on cultural activities.
Assessment of the need for and/or development of a
pesticide management policy or plan.
Consideration of integrated pest management, reduced
pesticide use, or alternatives to pesticides.
Sampling.
Concerns associated with the return of culturally and
spiritually significant items that may have been exposed to pesticides
as part of historical preservation efforts by museums or other
collectors.
Noxious weed education materials and/or control
alternatives.
Public outreach/education materials relating to pest
management and/or pesticide safety.
In addition, eligible proposals may be focused on the monitoring of
surface water or ground water (e.g., assessing dietary exposure to
pesticides via drinking water, determining those water bodies that may
be impaired by pesticides, predicting potential exposure to endangered
or threatened aquatic species, or establishing a baseline of
contamination from which to measure progress toward future improvement
in the environment).
Water quality projects may involve: (1) Information gathering; (2)
baseline development including vulnerability assessment, identifying
pesticides (from either on or off reservation sources) that are most
likely to impact water quality; (3) providing information to pesticide
users on ways they can assist in protecting the quality of water
sources; (4) developing other measures that protect water from
pesticides; or (5) developing projects aimed at preventing
contamination of water sources, mitigating contaminated water sources
or developing best management practices.
Other projects, not necessarily linked to water quality issues, may
include: (1) Training on the establishment of Tribal pesticide codes;
(2) creating and implementing a system for the proper disposal of
pesticides, and/or; (3) educational outreach to the community on
pesticide controls. Sampling projects may include soil sampling,
residue sampling on culturally significant/medicinal plants, or
sampling to determine the effects of pesticides on cultural activities,
such as subsistence hunting and fishing.
Water quality and non-water quality pesticide-related projects are
equally eligible for funding under this grant program. Reviewers will
give additional consideration to proposals that recognize and build
upon existing, publicly available, technical and educational
information.
ii. Outcomes. Applicants must provide a description of expected
outcomes. Nominees must be able to account for the environmental
improvement that is expected to result from the project and adequately
show how the project will be evaluated. Criteria by which the project
will be judged and whether or not it will be considered a success
should be incorporated into the description.
iii. Past awards and performance. Applicants must provide
information, if the applicant has received project funding in prior
years through the Office of Pesticide Programs Tribal grant program,
that outcomes of prior projects were beneficial, sustainable, and/or
transferable. If the applicant has never received an award under this
grant program, that should be clearly noted. If unexpected barriers
were encountered during the implementation of a prior project, those
should be noted and briefly discussed as well.
3. Cost sharing and matching. There are no cost share requirements
for this project.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to request proposal package. The applicant must submit
the project proposal to the appropriate EPA regional contact, as listed
below. One original, signed package must be sent by mail. An electronic
copy of the proposal is also required and must be sent via e-mail to
the regional contact. The proposal must be received by your EPA region
no later than close of business, June 13, 2005. Incomplete or late
proposals will be disqualified for funding consideration. Contact the
appropriate regional staff person if you need assistance or have
questions regarding the creation or submission of a project proposal.
To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify
docket ID number OPP-2005-0006 in the subject line on the first page of
your proposal.
EPA regional Tribal pesticide contacts are as follows:
EPA Region I (Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,
Vermont). Rob Koethe, EPA Region I, One Congress St., Suite 1100,
(CPT), Boston, MA 02114-2023, telephone: (617) 918-1535, fax: (617)
918-1505, e-mail: koethe.robert@epa.gov.
EPA Region II (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands).
Tracy Truesdale, EPA Region II, U.S. EPA Facilities, Raritan Depot
(MS500), 2890 Woodbridge Ave., Edison, NJ 08837-3679, telephone: (732)
906-6894, fax: (732) 321-6771, e-mail: truesdale.tracy@epa.gov.
EPA Region III (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West
Virginia, District of Columbia). Fatima El Abdaoui, EPA Region III,
Chestnut Building (3AT11), Philadelphia, PA 19107, telephone: (215)
814-2129, fax: (215) 814-3114, e-mail: el-abdaoui.fatima@epa.gov.
EPA Region IV (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee). Randy Dominy, EPA Region
IV, 61 Forsyth St., SW., Atlanta, GA 30303, telephone: (404) 562-8996,
fax: (404) 562-8973, e-mail: dominy.randy@epa.gov.
EPA Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin).
Meonii Crenshaw, EPA Region V, 77 West Jackson Boulevard (DT-8J),
Chicago, IL 60604-3507, telephone: (312) 353-4716, fax: (312) 353-4788,
e-mail: crenshaw.meonii@epa.gov.
EPA Region VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas).
Jerry Collins, EPA Region VI, 1445 Ross Avenue, (6PD-P), Dallas, TX
75202-2733, telephone: (214) 665-7562, fax: (214) 665-7263, e-mail:
collins.jerry@epa.gov.
EPA Region VII (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska). John Tice, EPA
Region VII, 100 Centennial Mall N., Room 289, Lincoln, NE 68508,
telephone: (402) 437-5080, fax: (402) 323-9079, e-mail:
tice.john@epa.gov.
EPA Region VIII (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota,
Utah, Wyoming). Margaret Collins, EPA Region VIII, 999 18th St., (8P-
P3T), Denver, CO 80202-2466, telephone: (303) 312-6023, fax: (303) 312-
6044, e-mail: collins.margaret@epa.gov.
[[Page 22039]]
EPA Region IX (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa,
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam). Marcy Katzin,
EPA Region IX, 75 Hawthorne St., (CMD 5), San Francisco, CA 94105,
telephone: (415) 947-4215, fax: (415) 947-3583, e-mail:
katzin.marcy@epa.gov.
EPA Region X (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington). Theresa Pimentel,
EPA Region X, 1200 Sixth Avenue, (OCE-084), Seattle, WA 98101,
telephone: (206) 553-0257, fax: (206) 553-1775, e-mail:
pimentel.theresa@epa.gov.
2. Notification process. Regions will notify their respective
applicants of the selections. Those applicants not awarded funds may
request an explanation for the lack of award from EPA regional staff.
3. Content and form of proposal submission. Proposals must be
typewritten, in 12 point or larger print, using 8.5 x 11 inch paper
with minimum 1 inch horizontal and vertical margins. Pages must be
numbered, in order starting with the cover page and continuing through
the appendices. One original hard copy and one electronic copy (e-mail
or disk) is required.
Your application package must include the following:
Completed Standard Form SF 424, Application for Federal
Assistance. Your organization fax number and e-mail address must be
included. The application forms are available at http://www.epa/gov.ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm
.
Completed Section B. Budget Categories on page 1 of
Standard Form SF 424A. The estimated budget should outline costs for
personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual,
indirect cost rate, and any other costs associated with the proposed
project.
Detailed itemization of the amounts budgeted by individual
Object Class Categories (see ``allowable costs'' discussion below).
Statement regarding whether this proposal is a
continuation of a previously funded project. If so, please provide the
assistance number and status of the current grant/cooperative
agreement.
Cover page. Including descriptive project title.
Executive summary. The executive summary shall be a stand
alone document, not to exceed one page, containing the specifics of
what is proposed and what you expect to accomplish regarding measuring
or movement toward achieving project goals. This summary should
identify the measurable environmental results you expect including
potential human health benefits.
Table of contents. A one page table listing the different
parts of your proposal, including any appendices, and the page number
on which each part begins.
Proposal narrative. Includes Parts I-V as identified below
(not to exceed 10 pages).
Part I: Project title. Your proposal should be given a
descriptive project title.
Part II - Objectives. A number list (1, 2, etc.) of
concisely written project objectives, in most cases, each objective can
be stated in a single sentence.
Part III - Justification. For each objective listed in
Part II, discuss the potential outcome in terms of human health,
environmental and/or pesticide risk reduction.
Part IV - Approach and methods. Describe in detail how the
program will be carried out. Describe how the system or approach will
support the program goals.
Part V - Impact assessment. In this section, describe how
you will evaluate the success of the program in terms of measurable
results. How and with what measures will human health and the
environment be better protected as a result of the program.
Quantifiable risk reduction measures should be described.
Appendices. Appendices must be included as part of the
proposal package and contain specific information that directly
supports the likely ability of the applicant to successfully meet the
performance requirements of this solicitation. Additional appendices
are not permitted.
Timetable (Draft work plan 1-2 pages). The timetable
includes what will be accomplished in terms of milestones and goals and
who is resposible for the achievement and should outline:
-- Description/list of deliverables.
-- The separate phases of the project.
-- The tasks associated with each phase of the project.
-- The time frames for completion of each phase or task.
The name, title of the person(s) who will conduct each phase or
task. The dates when progress reports will be provided to EPA, clearly
showing deliverables, accomplishments, delays and/or obstacles.
(Project costs cannot be incurred until a final work plan has been
approved by the appropriate EPA regional office.)
Major participants. Brief resumes for each major project
participant (not to exceed two pages) should be submitted in this
appendix. The name, title of the person(s) who will conduct each phase
or task.
Letter or resolution from the Tribal leadership showing
support for, and commitment to, the project should be submitted. (If it
is not possible to obtain a letter/resolution from your Tribal leader
to submit with your project proposal, an interim letter of explanation
must be included with the proposal. An original letter/resolution from
your Tribal leadership will be required prior to project award.) If the
applicant is a consortium of federally recognized Tribes (as defined in
Unit II.B.), a letter from the consortium leadership, on consortium
letterhead, affirming consortium status and member Tribes' support for
the project, must accompany the proposal.
Letter of confirmation of availability for any other funds
needed to complete the project. If your proposal requires the use of
additional funds for leveraging, please include a letter from the
funding source, confirming that these monies are available for the
project. If the budget includes a Tribal in-kind contribution, a letter
of confirmation is not needed.
Additional information. Additional information, including
maps, data tables, excerpts from studies, photographs, news media
reports, or other documents should be included in appendices to the
main project proposal, when they add significant supporting detail to
the main proposal. Appendix titles, and their starting page numbers,
should be included in the Table of Contents, just after the proposal
cover page.
3. Submission dates and times. All applications must be submitted
by mail. An electronic copy of the proposal is also required. It can be
sent via e-mail to the regional contact. Regardless of submission
method, all applications must be received by EPA on or before June 13,
2005.
4. Intergovernmental Review. All applicants should be aware that
formal requests for assistance (i.e., SF 424 and associated
documentation) may be subject to intergovernmental review under
Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.'' Applicants should contact their state's single point of
contact (SPOC) for further information. There is a list of these
contacts at the following web site: http:/whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html
.
5. Funding restrictions. Cooperative agreements awarded under this
program are intended to provide financial assistance to eligible Tribal
governments or intertribal consortia for projects that assess and/or
reduce the risks of pesticide exposure to human health and
[[Page 22040]]
the environment. EPA cooperative agreement funds may only be used for
the purpose set forth in the agreement, and use must be consistent with
the statutory authority for the award. Funds may not be used for
matching funds for other Federal grants, lobbying, or intervention in
Federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, Federal
funds may not be used to sue the Federal government or any other
government entity. All costs identified in the budget must conform to
the applicable Federal Cost Principles contained in OMB Circulars A-21,
A-87, A-122, as appropriate.
6. Other submission requirements. Each application must include the
original paper copy of the submission, as well as one electronic copy.
The electronic copy of your application package, whether submitted via
e-mail or on a disk, must be consolidated into a single Microsoft Word
or Adobe PDF 5/6 file. If you send your electronic copy via e-mail,
please identify it as ``FY 2005 Proposal for Tribal Pesticide and
Special Projects'' on the subject line and attach it as an e-mail to
the appropriate regional contact person listed in IV.1. Be sure you
identify the proposal originator in the body of the e-mail, before the
attachment, to enable us to match it with your hard copy. If mailing a
disk, please use a 3.5 disk that is labeled as a proposal for the ``FY
2005 Tribal Pesticide and Special Projects'' and enclose it in the
proposal package. For further information on submission, contact the
EPA regional Tribal pesticide representative listed in Unit IV.1.
7. Confidential business information. In accordance with 40 CFR
2.203, applicants may claim all or a portion of their application/
proposal as confidential business information. EPA will evaluate
confidential claims in accordance with 40 CFR part 2. Applicants must
clearly mark applications/proposals or portions of applications/
proposals they claim as confidential. If no claim of confidentiality is
made, EPA is not required to make the inquiry to the applicant
otherwise required by 40 CFR 2.204(2) prior to disclosure.
V. Application Review Information
1. Review and selection process. Proposals will be reviewed and
approved for validity and completeness by EPA regional office
personnel. If the region determines that an application is incomplete,
the proposal will not be considered further. The region will forward
all complete proposal packages, along with regional comments, to an EPA
review panel convened by the Office of Pesticide Programs. If
necessary, the panel will consult with regional staff regarding
proposal content and regional comments. If money remains after the
award selection process is completed, the review team will determine
the allocation of the remaining money. Final selections will be made by
close of business 60 days after the closing date for receipt of
proposals.
Applicants must submit information, as specified in this
solicitation, to address award criteria. Applicants must also provide
information specified in this solicitation that will assist EPA in
assessing the Tribe's capacity to do the work outlined in the project
proposal. The proposed work plan and budget should reflect activities
that can realistically be completed during the period of performance of
the cooperative agreement. Criteria that will be used to review, rank,
and award funding are found below.
i. General background information requirement. Pesticide-related
projects that address a wide variety of issues of concern to Indian
country are eligible for funding under this grant program. If the
applicant Tribe or consortium has previously received project funding
from the Office of Pesticide Programs Tribal Grant Program, specific
information about those funded projects should be included with this
proposal, for example:
What was the project?
When was the award made, and for what dollar amount?
What successes or barriers were encountered as the project
moved forward?
What outputs from previously funded OPP projects continue
to provide benefits to the Tribe (e.g., retention of trained personnel,
continued use of purchased equipment, accretion of baseline, sampling
and analysis data)?
Information on projects previously funded by this OPP Tribal grant
program may be provided in several ways: You may include descriptive
language either in the narrative of the current proposal or as an
appendix to the current proposal, or you may include a copy of the
previous project's final report as an appendix to this proposal. The
name of the EPA Project Officer for any projects previously funded
under this grant program should also be included. If the applicant has
never received funding under this grant program, that should be clearly
noted in the proposal. Failure to address this information request may
render your proposal non-responsive to this solicitation. If you have
questions about this requirement, please contact your EPA region, or
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
ii. Selection criteria. The proposals will be reviewed, evaluated,
and ranked by a selected panel of EPA reviewers, based on the
evaluation criteria and weighting factors that follow immediately
below. (Total possible points: 100).
Criterion 1: Technical Qualifications, Overall Management Plan, Past
Awards and Performance (25 Points)
Does the person(s) designated to lead the project have the
technical expertise he or she will need to successfully complete it?
Does the project leader have experience in grant and project
management?
Proposals should provide complete information on the
education, skills, training and relevant experience of the project
leader. As appropriate, please cite technical qualifications and
specific examples of prior, relevant experience. If this project will
develop new Tribal capacity, describe how the project leader and/or
staff will gain necessary training and expertise.
To whom does the project leader report? What systems of
accountability and management oversight are in place to ensure that
this project stays on track?
If previously performed work directly impacts this
project, briefly describe the connection. If a directly relevant
project is currently ongoing, what progress has been made? If this new
project builds upon earlier efforts, how will the Tribe use the
knowledge, data, and experience derived from previous projects to shape
this new proposed activity?
If appropriate, reviewers will give additional
consideration to proposals that recognize and build upon existing,
publicly available, technical and educational information.
Criterion 2: Justification for Need of the Project, Soundness of
Technical Approach (30 Points)
To provide reviewers with context for your proposed project, and to
assist them in gaining the clearest possible sense of the positive
impact of this project on your Tribe and the environment, please
briefly provide some information about your reservation:
Specify the location, size, geography, and general climate
of the reservation.
About how many residents are Tribal members and how many
are not Tribal members?
How much of the reservation is under cultivation where
pesticides are used?
[[Page 22041]]
Does the reservation include wetlands or other natural
resource preserves?
If there is relevance to your project, briefly describe
the Tribal and non-Tribal populations of surrounding counties/states,
and surrounding land use.
How many people (tribal/non-Tribal) are employed by the
Tribal government (e.g., in government services, including
environmental monitoring or management, health care, police and fire
protection)?
How many are employed on the reservation in other areas
that use pesticides or may be impacted by their use (e.g., agriculture,
animal husbandry, fisheries/fishing, forestry, construction, casinos/
resorts/golf course maintenance, etc.)?
If you are concerned about pesticide pollution that may
originate within reservation boundaries, what are the potential sources
and what chemicals might be involved?
If you are concerned with pollution migration from off-
reservation sources, what are those potential sources, and what
chemicals are of specific concern?
Is the Tribe concerned about water quality issues? If so,
please describe the nature of these concerns.
Does the Tribe currently have any pesticide policy or
pesticide management program in place? If not is it seeking to
establish a code?
Why is this project important to the Tribe or the Tribal
consortium? What environmental issues(s) will it address and how
serious and/or pervasive are these issues? What is the expected outcome
of the project? What benefits will this project bring to the Tribe in
terms of human and environmental health?
Has the tribe identified a need to coordinate or consult
with other parties (Tribal and/or non-Tribal) to ensure the success of
this project? If so, who are they and what is your plan to involve
them? How will they be affected by the outcome of the project?
What are the key outputs of this project? How do you
propose to quantify and measure progress? Have interim milestones for
this project been established? If so, what are they? How will you
evaluate the success of the project in terms of measurable
environmental results?
Does your budget request accurately reflect the work you
propose? Please provide a clear correlation between expenses and
project objectives. Will EPA funding for this project be supplemented
with funding from other source(s)? If so, please identify them.
Please describe the steps you will take to ensure
successful completion of the project. Provide a time-line and
description of interim and final results and deliverables.
Criterion 3: Benefits, Sustainability, Transferable Results (30 Points)
Discuss if the results from this project will continue to provide
benefits to the Tribe or other Tribes after the period of performance
has expired and this funding is no longer available.
How are the benefits of this effort expected to be
sustained over time?
Can the project results be incorporated into existing and/
or future pesticide-related Tribal environmental activities?
Are any of the deliverables, experiences, products, or
outcomes resulting from the project transferable to other communities?
Might this project readily be implemented by another Tribe?
What ecological or human health benefits does this project
provide? What quality of life issues does the project address?
Does the project have limited or broad application to
address risks related to pesticides?
Does the applicant recognize a need for coordination
between Tribal agencies and outside communities, and/or Federal, State
or local agencies?
Will the project help build Tribal infrastructure and
capacity? How?
Criterion 4: Outcomes (15 Points)
The proposals will be scored based on how well they are supported
by a clearly articulated set of performance and progress measures.
Reviewers will evaluate the workplan in relation to its likelihood to
achieve predicted environmental results, including the likelihood of
attaining expected outcomes, reaching project goals, and producing on-
the-ground, quantifiable environmental change. A description of
expected outcomes must be included. Reviewer consideration included:
What is the environmental improvement that is expected to
result from the project?
Does the applicant adequately show how the project will be
evaluated?
Has the applicant developed criteria by which the project
will be judged and whether or not it will be considered a success?
iii. Selection official. The final funding decision will be made
from the group of top rated proposals by the Chief of the Government
and International Services Branch, Field and External Affairs Division,
Office of Pesticide Programs. The Agency reserves the right to reject
all proposals and make no awards.
iv. Disputes. Assistance agreement competition-related disputes
will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures
published in the Federal Register of January 26, 2005 (70 FR 3629),
which can be found at http://edocket.access.gop.gov/2005/05-1371.htm. Copies of these
procedures may also be requested by contacting the appropriate EPA
Regional Tribal Coordinator listed in Unit IV.1.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Notification process. Regions will notify their respective
applicants of the selections. Those applicants not awarded funds may
request an explanation for the lack of award from EPA regional staff.
2. Post-selection regulatory requirements. Selected applicants must
negotiate a final work plan, including reporting requirements, with the
designated EPA regional project officer. In addition, selected
applicants must negotiate a final work plan, including reporting
requirements, with the designated EPA regional project officer. For
more general information on post award requirements and the evaluation
of grantee performance, see 40 CFR part 31.
VII. Agency Contact
For additional information contact: Georgia McDuffie, Field and
External Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-6463; fax
number: (703) 308-1850; e-mail address: mcduffie.georgia@epa.gov or
contact the EPA regional Tribal pesticide representative listed in Unit
IV.1.
VIII. Other Information
A. Does this Action Apply to Me?
Potentially affected entities include federally recognized Tribal
governments, federally recognized Alaska native village governments, or
qualified intertribal consortia. Only one project proposal from each
Tribal government or intertribal consortium will be considered for
funding. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this
action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
B. How Can I Get Copies of this Document and Other Related Information?
1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this
action
[[Page 22042]]
under docket identification (ID) number OPP-2005-0006. The official
public docket is the collection of materials that is available for
public viewing at the Public Information and Records Integrity Branch
(PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2, 1801 S. Bell St., Arlington
VA. This docket facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The docket telephone number
is (703) 305-5805.
2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register''
listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. An electronic version of the
public docket is available through EPA's electronic public docket and
comment system, EPA Dockets. You may use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/
to access the index listing of the contents of the
official public docket, and to access those documents in the public
docket that are available electronically. Although not all docket
materials may be available electronically, you may still access any of
the publicly available docket materials through the docket facility
identified in Unit VIII.B.1. Once in the system, select ``search,''
then key in the appropriate docket ID number.
IX. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General
Grant solicitations containing binding legal requirements are
considered rules for the purpose of the Congressional Review Act (CRA)
(5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.). The CRA generally provides that before a rule
may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule
report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the
Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will
submit a report containing this grant solicitation and other required
information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and
the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication in
the Federal Register. This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5
U.S.C. 804(2).
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Grants, Pesticides, Training.
Dated: April 25, 2005.
Susan B. Hazen,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and
Toxic Substances.
[FR Doc. 05-8611 Filed 4-26-05; 2:19 pm]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S