[Federal Register: May 1, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 85)]
[Notices]
[Page 24049-24050]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01my08-34]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket Number 080328487-8488-01]
Revision to the Remote Community Alert Systems Program
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: NOAA publishes this notice to reopen the application
solicitation period and to amend the application requirements for the
Remote Community Alert Systems Program, which was announced in the
Federal Register on February 8, 2008. The notice informs applicants
that NOAA reopens the competition and establishes a new due date for
applications of May 23, 2008, clarifies the submission requirements
concerning an abstract page and project description, and clarifies that
eligible applicants include U.S. Commonwealths and Territories. It also
removes a typographical error which referenced a required ``item 5''
which does not exist in the text. Finally, it advises applicants that
they can amend or resubmit their applications, if they so choose, by
the new application deadline.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to Craig Hodan, NOAA/NWS, 1325 East-West Highway,
Room 3348, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. Phone: 301-713-9480 x 187, e-
mail: craig.hodan@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA publishes this notice to make changes
to the Remote Community Alert Systems Program, which was announced in
the Federal Register on February 8, 2008 (73 FR 7528). This notice
reopens the application solicitation period for the Remote Community
Alert System Program published in the Federal Register notice cited
above. The new deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on May 23, 2008.
Applicants who submitted proposals may amend or resubmit their
applications by the newly established date. All applications received
after April 11, 2008 and by the new deadline will be considered timely
and will be evaluated by the program.
Also, NOAA amends the ``Eligibility'' paragraph to clarify that
eligible applicants include those from U.S. Commonwealths and
Territories. The current language reads: ``Eligible applicants are
States and Tribal Communities.'' NOAA amends this
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language to read: ``Eligible applicants are States (including U.S.
Commonwealths and Territories) and Tribal Communities.''
In addition, this notice clarifies the requirement to submit an
abstract page and project description as part of the application, and
removes reference to the submission of an ``item 5'' which does not
exist in the text and was a typographical error. The Announcement of
Federal Funding Opportunity (NWS-NWSPO-2008-2001322) for this program
requires, as part of the application, an abstract and a project
description. However, section IV.B of the FFO contained misleading
language that erroneously implied that these two documents were not
required to be submitted by the due date: ``Failure to submit items 1,
4 and 5 by the application date will result in the application not
being reviewed.'' This notice clarifies that the abstract and project
description are required to be submitted by the application due date in
order for the application to be considered for funding. Therefore, the
text of the third sentence of Section IV.B. is revised to read:
``Failure to submit items 1 through 4 by the application date will
result in the application not being reviewed.'' The Announcement
presently explains what the abstract page and project description
should contain.
Limitation of Liability
In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible
for proposal preparation costs if this program is cancelled because of
other agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not
oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available
funds. Applicants are hereby given notice that funding for the Fiscal
Year 2008 program is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year
2008 appropriations.
Universal Identifier
Applicants should be aware they are required to provide a Dun and
Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number during the
application process. See the October 30, 2002, Federal Register, (67,
FR 66177) for additional information. Organizations can receive a DUNS
number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number
request line at 1-866-705-5711 or via the Internet at http://
www.dunandbradstreet.com.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NOAA must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required
by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for applicant projects
or proposals which are seeking NOAA federal funding opportunities.
Detailed information on NOAA compliance with NEPA can be found at the
following NOAA NEPA Web site: http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/, including our
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6 for NEPA, http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/
NAO216_6_TOC.pdf, and the Council on Environmental Quality
implementation regulations, http://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/ceq/toc--
ceq.htm. Consequently, as part of an applicant's package, and under
their description of their program activities, applicants are required
to provide detailed information on the activities to be conducted,
locations, sites, species and habitat to be affected, possible
construction activities, and any environmental concerns that may exist
(e.g., the use and disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals,
introduction of non-indigenous species, impacts to endangered and
threatened species, aquaculture projects, and impacts to coral reef
systems). In addition to providing specific information that will serve
as the basis for any required impact analyses, applicants may also be
requested to assist NOAA in drafting of an environmental assessment, if
NOAA determines an assessment is required. Applicants will also be
required to cooperate with NOAA in identifying feasible measures to
reduce or avoid any identified adverse environmental impacts of their
proposal. The failure to do so shall be grounds for not selecting an
application. In some cases if additional information is required after
an application is selected, funds can be withheld by the Grants Officer
under a special award condition requiring the recipient to submit
additional environmental compliance information sufficient to enable
NOAA to make an assessment on any impacts that a project may have on
the environment.
The Department of Commerce Preaward Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal
Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), are
applicable to this solicitation.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This document contains collection-of-information requirements
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The requirement for an
abstract and project description fall under the approval for Standard
Form 424. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, SF-LLL, and CD-346
has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under
the respective control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-
0046, and 0605-0001. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no
person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a
penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject
to the requirements of the PRA unless that collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Executive Order 12866
This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of Executive Order 12866.
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)
It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order
13132.
Administrative Procedure Act/ Regulatory Flexibility Act
Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required
by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules
concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5
U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not
required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not
been prepared.
Dated: April 28, 2008.
David Murray,
Director, Management and Organization Division, NWS CFO.
[FR Doc. E8-9616 Filed 4-30-08; 8:45 am]
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