[Federal Register: December 23, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 246)]
[Notices]
[Page 76282-76283]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23de05-68]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8014-2]
State Innovation Grant Program, Notice of Availability of
Solicitation for Proposals for 2006 Awards
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Center for
Environmental Innovation (NCEI) is giving notice of the availability of
its solicitation for proposals for the 2006 grant program to support
innovation by state environmental regulatory agencies--the ``State
Innovation Grant Program.''
The solicitation is available at the Agency's State Innovation
Grant Web site: http://www.epa.gov/innovation/stategrants/solicitation2006.pdf
, or may be requested from the Agency by e-mail,
telephone, or by mail. Only the principal environmental regulatory
agency within each State (generally, where delegated authorities for
Federal environmental regulations exist) is eligible to receive these
grants.
DATES: State environmental regulatory agencies will have until January
20, 2006 to respond with a pre-proposal, budget, and project summary.
The environmental regulatory agencies from the fifty (50) States;
Washington, DC, and four (4) territories were notified of the
solicitation's availability by fax and e-mail transmittals on December
12, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Solicitation can be downloaded from the
Agency's Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/innovation/stategrants or may
be requested by telephone (202-566-2186), or by e-mail (
Innovation_State_Grants@epa.gov). You can request a solicitation application
package be sent to you by fax or by mail by contacting NCEI as
indicated below.
Applicants may apply by sending a hardcopy submission of their pre-
proposal to EPA or by applying electronically either through
http://www.grants.gov. as explained in Section 4.4 of the solicitation, or directly by e-mail to: Innovation--State--Grants@epa.gov. Applicants
must submit the information required below with their application
package. Applicants may download individual grant application forms, or
electronically request a paper application package and an accompanying
computer CD of
[[Page 76283]]
information related to applicants/grant recipients roles and
responsibilities from EPA's Grants and Debarment Web site at (http://www.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm
). Proposals submitted in response
to this solicitation, or questions concerning the solicitation should
be sent to: State Innovation Grants Program, National Center for
Environmental Innovation, Office of the Administrator, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (MC 1807T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC 20460. (202) 566-2186. (202) 566-2220 FAX.
Innovation_State_Grants@epa.gov.
For courier delivery only: Sherri Walker, State Innovation Grants
Program, U.S. EPA , EPA West Building, Room 4214D, 1301 Constitution
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20005.
Proposal responses or questions may also be sent by fax to (202-
566-2220), addressed to the ``State Innovation Grant Program,''or by e-
mail to: Innovation_State_Grants@epa.gov. We encourage e-mail
responses. If you have questions about responding to this notice,
please contact EPA at this e-mail address or fax number, or you may
call Sherri Walker at 202-566-2186. EPA will acknowledge all responses
it receives to this notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) is soliciting pre-proposals for an assistance agreement program
(the ``State Innovation Grant Program'') in an effort to support
innovation by State environmental regulatory agencies. In April 2002,
EPA issued its plan for future innovation efforts, published as
Innovating for Better Environmental Result: A Strategy to Guide the
Next Generation of Innovation at EPA (EPA 100-R-02-002; http://www.epa.gov/innovation/pdf/strategy.pdf
). This assistance agreement
program strengthens EPA's partnership with the States by assisting
State Innovation that supports the Strategy. EPA would like to help
States build on previous experience and undertake strategic innovation
projects that promote larger-scale models for ``next generation''
environmental protection and promise better environmental results. EPA
is interested in funding projects that: (1) Go beyond a single facility
experiment to promote change that is ``systems-oriented;'' (2) provide
better results from a program, process, or sector-wide innovation; and
(3) promote integrated (cross-media) environmental management with high
potential for transfer to other States.
``Innovation in permitting'' is the theme for the 2006
solicitation. Under this theme, EPA is interested in pre-proposals
that:
(a) Apply the Environmental Results Program model, an alternative
to permitting scheme for small business sectors;
(b) Explore the relationship between Environmental Management
Systems and permitting; or
(c) Seek to build State support for EPA's National Environmental
Performance Track Program or similar State performance-based
environmental leadership programs.
EPA interprets ``innovation in permitting'' broadly to include
permitting programs, pesticide licensing programs, and other
alternatives or supplements to permitting programs. EPA is interested
in creative approaches that both (1) achieve mandatory Federal and
State standards and (2) encourage performance and address environmental
issues above and beyond minimum requirements.
This solicitation begins the fourth State Innovation Grant
competition. Of the 22 projects that have been awarded in the prior
rounds (including those with pending awards) eleven (11) are for
development of Environmental Results Programs, seven (7) relate to
Environmental Management Systems and permitting, two (2) are to enhance
Performance-Based Environmental Leadership programs, two (2) are for
Watershed-based permitting, and one (1) is Information Technology for
the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to a permitting
process. For information on the prior solicitations and awards, please
see highlights of previous awards in Attachment 3 of the solicitation,
or see the EPA State Innovation Grants Web site at http://www.epa.gov/innovation/stategrants
.
Dated: December 8, 2005.
Elizabeth Shaw,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy Innovation.
[FR Doc. E5-7775 Filed 12-22-05; 8:45 am]
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