Solicitation Notice; Environmental Education Grants Program, Fiscal Year 1997

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 10, 1996)]

[Notices]

[Pages 65106-65117]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 96-31358]

[[Page 65105]]

_______________________________________________________________________

Part II

Environmental Protection Agency

_______________________________________________________________________

Environmental Education Grants Program, Fiscal Year 1997; Solicitation

Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 238 / Tuesday, December 10, 1996 /

Notices

[[Page 65106]]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5662-4]

Solicitation Notice; Environmental Education Grants Program,

Fiscal Year 1997

Section I. Overview and Deadlines

Due Date for Proposals: February 21, 1997

A. What Is the Purpose of This Solicitation Notice?

This notice solicits grant proposals from education institutions,

public agencies, and non-profit organizations to support environmental

education projects as defined in this notice.

B. What Is the Environmental Education Grants Program? How Much Money

Is Available for This Program?

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) (P.L. 101-619). Congress has appropriated

approximately $13 million for this grants program over the past five

years (between $2.1 and $2.9 million per year from FY 1992 through FY

1996). During this time, EPA headquarters has awarded between $628,000

and $1.5 million in grant funds per year and each of EPA's ten regional

offices award between $150,000 to $180,000 per year. EPA anticipates

funding of approximately $3 million in FY 1997 and will award grants

subject to the availability of funding.

C. What Is Environmental Education?

The goal of environmental education is to increase public awareness

and knowledge about environmental issues, and to provide the public

with the skills needed to make informed decisions and to take

responsible actions. Environmental education enhances critical-

thinking, problem-solving, and effective decision-making skills. It

also 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.

D. When Is My Proposal Due to EPA and When Will EPA Announce the Grant

Awards?

Proposals, signed by an authorized representative plus two copies,

must be mailed to EPA postmarked no later than Friday, February 21,

1997. Proposals which are postmarked after February 21, 1997 will not

be considered for funding. EPA expects to announce the 1997 grant

awards in the Summer of 1997.

E. Do I Mail My Proposal to EPA Headquarters or an EPA Regional Office?

Is There a Difference Between the Type of Projects Funded by

Headquarters and Regional Offices?

Proposals requesting between $25,001 and $250,000 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 (rather than

to the regional office where the applicant is located, if these

locations are different). A list of addresses by state is included at

the end of this notice. The EPA headquarters and regional grants will

be evaluated using the same criteria as defined in this solicitation.

F. Where Do I Get the Information and Forms Needed To Prepare My

Proposal?

Please read this solicitation notice carefully; it 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.

G. How Much Money Can I Request for My Grant Project? How Does the

Dollar Amount Requested Affect My Chance of Being Funded?

The statute sets a maximum limit of $250,000 in environmental

education grant funds for any one project. However, because of limited

funds, EPA prefers to issue smaller grants to more recipients with the

available funds. Applicants should be aware that EPA receives many more

proposals each year than can possibly be funded. In Fiscal Year 1996,

over 350 proposals were received at EPA Headquarters, while only nine

were funded, the largest for $145,000. Smaller proposals submitted to

the EPA Regions have a better chance of being funded, in part because

EPA has a legislative requirement, under Section 6(i) of the Act, to

award 25% of the total amount of our grant funds for projects which

request $5,000 or less. For each EPA region, this means that the

largest number of the regional grants each year are for $5,000 or less.

In 1996, 2.5% of the proposals for more than $25,000 were funded, 6.1%

of the proposals between $5,000 and $25,000 were funded, and 18.6% of

the proposals for $5,000 or less were funded. In summary, you will

significantly increase your chance of being funded if you request

$5,000 or less from a Regional Office or $75,000 or less from

headquarters.

Section II. Eligible Applicants and Activities

H. Who Is Eligible To Submit Proposals?

Any local or tribal government education agency, state government

education or environmental agency, college or university, not-for-

profit organization, or noncommercial educational broadcasting entity

may submit a proposal. 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, including any Alaska Native Village, 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.

I. May an Organization Submit More Than One Proposal in FY 1997?

Yes, an organization may submit more than one proposal, but only 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.

J. May I Submit a Proposal for This Fiscal Year Even if I Have Been

Awarded Funding Under This Program in Past Years?

Yes, applicants who were awarded funding in the past may submit new

proposals to expand a previously funded project or to fund an entirely

different one. However, 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. In addition, due to

limited resources, EPA does not generally sustain projects beyond the

initial grant, unless there are compelling reasons to do so. The

program is geared toward providing seed money to initiate new projects

or advancing existing projects that are new in some way (e.g. in new

locations or with new audiences).

K. May a Teacher, Educator, or Faculty Member Apply?

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 cannot. Only agencies,

organizations, and

[[Page 65107]]

institutions--not individuals--are eligible to apply for grants.

L. What General Activities Are Eligible for Funding Under This Program?

As specified under the Act, the environmental education activities

that are eligible for funding under this program must include, but are

not limited to, at least one of the following:

1. Designing, demonstrating, or disseminating environmental

curricula (see next paragraph);

2. Designing and demonstrating field methods, practices, and

techniques, including assessing environmental and ecological conditions

or specific environmental issues or problems;

3. Training or educating teachers, faculty, or related personnel;

or

4. Fostering international cooperation in addressing environmental

issues and problems in the United States, Canada, and/or Mexico.

Regarding Item (1) 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 the new

curriculum has not been designed for a certain audience, existing

curricula cannot be adapted well to a particular local environmental

concern, 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 or other published document).

M. What Activities Are Not Eligible for Funding Under This Program?

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.

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.

Regarding Item (4) above, EPA will fund only environmental

education projects, not projects that are solely designed to develop or

disseminate environmental information. As discussed under Section I(C),

environmental education teaches critical-thinking, problem-solving

skills, and decision-making skills. By contrast, environmental

information provides facts or opinions about environmental issues or

problems, but does not enhance critical-thinking, problem-solving, or

effective decision-making skills. Although information is an essential

element of any educational effort, environmental information is not, by

itself, environmental education.

N. What Specific Type of Projects Will EPA Fund?

EPA will fund only those proposals which meet the criteria

specified below and which meet the definition of environmental

education under I(C). Proposals will not be funded if they do not meet

both. Apply to EPA Headquarters if you are requesting over $25,000 of

Federal funds and to your EPA Regional Office if you are requesting

$25,000 or less in Federal funds. The terms used in this Section are

defined in Paragraph (3) at the end of the Section.

1. Basic Criteria: All proposals must explain how the proposed

project:

a. Is new or significantly improved;

b. Has the potential for wide application;

c. Addresses a high priority environmental issue; and

d. Reaches key audiences and advances the environmental education

field by addressing one or more of the following:

(1) Building state, local, or tribal capacity to develop and

deliver quality environmental education programs;

(2) Utilizing environmental education as a catalyst to advance

state, local, or tribal education reform and improvement goals;

(3) Educating teachers, students, parents, community leaders, and

the public about human health threats from environmental pollution,

especially as it affects children;

(4) Educating teachers, faculty, or nonformal educators about

environmental issues to improve their environmental education teaching

skills (e.g., through workshops);

(5) Educating students in formal or nonformal settings about

environmental issues to encourage environmental careers;

(6) Educating low income and culturally diverse audiences about

environmental issues, thereby advancing environmental justice; and/or

(7) Educating the public about environmental issues in their

communities through community-based organizations or through print,

film, broadcast, or other media.

Note: Headquarters will give preference to the highest ranking

proposals which address (1) capacity building, (2) education reform,

and/or (3) human health, as described below under Definitions.

2. Criteria for Final Selections: EPA will make the final grant

selections as follows:

After individual projects are evaluated and scored by reviewers, as

described under Section V(W), 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:

a. The effectiveness of collaborative activities and partnerships,

as needed to effectively develop or implement the project;

b. The environmental and educational importance of the activity or

product;

c. The effectiveness of the delivery mechanism (i.e., workshop,

conference, etc.);

d. The cost effectiveness of the proposal; and

e. The geographic distribution of projects.

3. Definitions: The above terms are defined as follows:

Building, state, local, or tribal capacity refers to efforts to

improve 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.

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;

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--Identifying funding sources and creating grant programs;

--Identifying existing resources, developing databases of such

resources, and disseminating these resources and information;

--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 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 as well as 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 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, and

interdisciplinary study. Other examples include the development of new

high content and performance standards, the design of corresponding

assessment systems, the realignment of curriculum and instructional

practice to the high standards and assessment system, the use of

technology in promoting learning, the implementation of sustained and

intensive professional development activities, and the creation of

family and community partnerships.

Human health threats from environmental pollution, as used here is

intended to address recommended actions recently 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 a project directed at an environmental

problem that has a disproportionately high and adverse human health or

environmental impact in a low-income or culturally-diverse community.

A 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.

New or significantly improved pertains to a project that reaches a

specific community for the first time, develops a new or improved

teaching strategy, or uses a new or improved method of applying

existing materials.

Partnerships refers to EPA promotion of effective use of

partnerships between organizations or within an organization. The term

partnership is the forming of a collaborative working relationship

between two or more organizations such as governmental agencies, non-

profit organizations, educational institutions, and/or the private

sector. It may also refer to intra-organizational unions such as the

science and art departments of within a university collaborating on a

project.

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.

Section IV. Requirements for Proposals and Matching Funds

O. What is a Proposal?

The proposal contains three parts which are explained in Section

(S) below:

1. The ``Application for Federal Assistance''--Standard Form (SF)-

424 (attached);

2. The ``Budget Information: Non-Construction Programs''--Standard

Form (SF)-424A (attached); and

3. A work plan with appendices.

To ensure your proposal is completed properly, carefully follow the

instructions on the SF-424, SF-424A, and those provided below. The SF-

424, SF-424A, and completed work plan contain all the information EPA

will use to evaluate the merits of your proposal. Only finalists will

be asked to submit additional forms needed to process their proposal.

P. Are Matching Funds Required?

Yes, non-federal matching funds of at least 25% of the total cost

of the project are required, although EPA encourages matching funds of

greater than 25%. Federal funds to support the project must not exceed

75% of the total cost of the project. The 25% match may be provided by

the applicant or any other organization or institution, except that no

portion of the 25% match can include federal funds (unless specifically

authorized by statute). The 25% match 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. In the case of

salaries, applicants may use either minimum wage or fair market value.

The proposed match, including the value of in-kind contributions, is

subject to negotiation with EPA. The value of in-kind contributions

must be carefully documented. All grants are subject to audit.

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. If your match is larger than one-third of the requested amount,

it is sufficient. The amount of non-federal

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funds, including in-kind contributions, must be itemized in Block 15 of

the SF-424.

Q. Can I Use Federal Funds in Addition to Those Provided by This

Program to Support the Same Project?

Yes, you may use federal funds in addition to those provided by

this program, but only for different activities. However, you may not

use any federal funds to meet all or any part of the required 25% match

as stated in paragraph (P) above. If you have already been awarded

federal funds for a project in which you are seeking additional support

from this program, you must indicate in the budget section of the work

plan that you have been awarded other federal support for this project.

You must also identify the project officer, agency, office, address,

phone number, and the amount of the award.

R. Can I Request Funding for Any Budget Category on the SF-424A (i.e.,

Personnel/Salaries, Fringe Benefits, Travel, Equipment, Supplies,

Contractual, and Indirect Charges)?

Yes, you may request funding for any or all of the budget

categories identified above with the following exceptions.

1. As indicated under Section II(M)(1), EPA will not fund the

acquisition of real property (including buildings) or the construction

or modification of any building.

2. You may request funds to pay for salaries and fringe benefits,

but 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 reasonable

amounts of funding for salaries and fringe benefits.

3. You may include a request for indirect costs only if your

organization has already negotiated and received an ``indirect cost

rate'' from the federal government.

S. What Must be Included in the Proposal?

The proposal must contain an SF-424, SF-424A, and work plan as

described below:

1. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and Budget

Information SF-424A): The SF-424 and SF-424A are required for all

federal grants. A completed SF-424 and SF-424A must be submitted as

part of your proposal. These forms, along with instructions and

samples, are included at the end of this notice. Please carefully

review the instructions and the sample. Refer to Paragraph (R) above

for information on what types of budget categories can and cannot be

funded under this program.

2. Work Plan: A work plan describes your proposed project. The

total number of points possible for each proposal is 100. These points

will be distributed as follows. First, each of the following four

sections of the work plan are assigned points which add up to 90.

(Certain sections are given more points than others reflecting the

relative importance of each section). Second, reviewers will be given

the flexibility to provide up to 10 additional points for exceptional

projects based upon the overall quality of the proposal and evidence

that EPA's priorities, as stated in Section III(N), will be effectively

advanced by the proposed project. All criteria used to provide these 10

additional points will be consistent with the criteria established in

the solicitation.

All work plans must include and be formatted according to all four

sections (a-d) below:

a. Project Summary: Provide EPA with an overview of your entire

project. The summary must be no more than one page and must briefly

include all seven of the following:

(1) Describe your organization (and your key partners);

(2) State the goals and specific objectives of your project;

(3) Identify what type of project you will focus on as described

under Section III(N), e.g., teacher training or community-based

education;

(4) Describe the demographics of your target audience (including

the total number of direct participants, ethnic composition, and type

of individuals reached such as teachers, students, or the general

public).

(5) Indicate how you will reach your target audience;

(6) Describe the expected results of your project and how you will

evaluate it; and

(7) Indicate for which types of activities the EPA funds will be

used.

The project summary will be scored on how well you provide an

overview of your entire project based upon the seven subsections

identified above.

Project Summary Maximum Score: 5 Points

b. Project Description: Provide EPA with an explanation of how your

proposed project meets #1 and #2 below.

(1) Explain how the proposed project addresses one or more of EPA's

priorities and goals as set out under Section III(N).

This subsection will be scored on how clearly and effectively your

project: (a) establishes realistic goals and objectives; (b) identifies

its target audience and demonstrates an understanding of the needs of

that audience; (c) uses an effective means or delivery system for

reaching the target audience/ implementing the project; and (d)

demonstrates that it uses or produces quality educational products or

methods which teach critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-

making skills. Subsection maximum score: 40 points (10 points for each

of the four elements identified in this paragraph).

(2) Explain how the proposed project: (a) is new or significantly

improved; (b) has wide application; and (c) addresses a priority issue

as described under Section III(N).

This subsection will be scored on how well you explain how your

proposal meets the three elements identified above. Subsection maximum

score: 15 points (5 points for each of the three elements identified

above).

Project Description Maximum Score: 55 Points

c. Project Evaluation: Provide EPA with an explanation of how you

will determine or measure whether 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: (a)

your evaluation plan will measure the project's effectiveness; and (b)

your plan to apply data gathered from your evaluation to strengthen

your project.

Project Evaluation Maximum Score: 10 Points (5 Points for Each of the

Two Elements Identified Above)

d. Appendices: Provide EPA with a detailed budget, resumes of key

personnel, and letters of commitment. No other appendices or

attachments such as video tapes or sample curricula may be submitted.

(1) Budget: Describe how you will use the funds for personnel/

salaries, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, contract costs,

and indirect costs. You must also include a table which lists each

major proposed activity as well as the month and year it will be

completed and the amount of EPA funds that will be spent on each

activity. For smaller grants, your table may list only one or two

activities.

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. Subsection maximum score:

[[Page 65110]]

10 points (5 points for each of the two elements identified in this

paragraph)

(2) Key Personnel and Letters of Commitment: Attach one or two page

resumes for up to three key personnel implementing the project. Also,

include one page letters of commitment from partners (if there are

partners) with a significant role in the proposed project. Do not

include letters of support; they will not be considered in evaluating

proposals.

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.

Subsection Maximum Score: 10 Points

Appendices Maximum Score: 20 Points

T. What Are the Page Limits for the Work Plan?

Your work plan may include the following number of pages for

requests in federal funds of:

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,'' and ``project evaluation''), 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.

U. How Must the Proposal Be Submitted?

The applicant must submit one original and two copies of the

proposal (a signed SF-424, an SF-424A, and a work plan). Please submit

only the SF-424, the SF-424A, and the work plan. Do not include other

attachments such as cover letters, tables of contents, or appendices

other than those required (budget, resumes, 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

preferred to make identification of the original possible. 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 in the upper right hand corner.

V. What Regulations Must I Comply With in Submitting My Proposal?

The Environmental Education Grant Program Regulations, published in

the Federal Register on March 9, 1992, provides some 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

W. How Will Proposals be Reviewed and Who Will Conduct the Reviews?

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, especially as described under Sections II and III. 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,

especially the degree to which the work plan meets the requirements set

forth in Section III(N)(1-3). 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 each applicant's work

plan based upon the scoring system identified in Section IV(S)(2).

X. Who Will Make the Final Selections?

EPA Regional Administrators will select grant recipients for

projects with federal environmental education grant funding of $25,000

or less, taking into account the recommendations of the regional

environmental education coordinators who will base their

recommendations on the factors discussed above. The Associate

Administrator for Communications, Education, and Public Affairs at EPA

headquarters will select the grant recipients for projects with federal

environmental education grant funding of more than $25,000, taking into

account the recommendations of the Environmental Education Division

Director who will base the recommendations on the factors discussed

above.

Y. How and When Will I be Notified About the Status of My Proposal?

Applicants will receive a confirmation that EPA has received their

proposal once EPA has received all proposals and entered them into a

computerized data base, usually within two months of receipt. EPA will

notify applicants again after awards have been announced. To the extent

possible, this notification will include feedback on both the proposals

that were screened out of the process early and on the proposals that

were fully evaluated and ranked by reviewers. The degree to which EPA

can provide such feedback will vary among EPA offices depending upon

the availability of resources to conduct these activities.

Section VI. Grantees Responsibilities

AA. When Can I Begin Incurring Costs?

Grant recipients may begin incurring costs on the start date

identified in your EPA grant agreement.

BB. May an Applicant Request Funds for a Project That Extends Beyond a

One-year Budget Period?

Proposals submitted to EPA regional offices for up to $5,000 may

request funds for only a one-year budget period. Proposals submitted to

EPA regional offices or headquarters requesting funds of more than

$5,000 may request funds for up to a two-year budget period, although

EPA strongly encourages applicants to request funds for only a one-year

budget period.

CC. Who Will Perform Projects and Activities?

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 that will assist in

carrying out the project.

DD. What Reports and Work Products Must Grant Recipients Submit to EPA

and When Are They Due?

All grant recipients must 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. Grant recipients with projects that have

a two-year budget period must also submit a progress report at the end

of the first year. Grant recipients with a federal environmental

education grant share greater than $5,000 may also be required to

submit a semi-annual progress report. Specific report

[[Page 65111]]

requirements will be identified in the EPA award agreement.

EE. What Does EPA Plan to Do With the Grant Recipients' Final Reports

and Final Work Products?

EPA will assemble a central library of all final reports and work

products at headquarters in Washington, D.C. EPA plans to evaluate

these final reports and work products and may disseminate them to

others to serve as model programs.

Section VII. Other Information and Mailing List

FF. Where Can I Get Additional Information on Preparing My Proposal and

on Other Sources of Funding?

EPA strongly encourages applicants to carefully read the

solicitation notice. Many questions, such as when is the deadline for

submitting proposals and what activities can be funded under this

program, are answered in this solicitation. 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 your EPA regional office for grant requests of

$25,000 or less. A list of the names and telephone numbers of EPA

representatives are listed at the end of this notice. If you receive

this solicitation electronically and you wish to apply for funding, you

may call your regional office as listed for the application forms that

are mentioned in the solicitation.

Information about the grants program is also available on the

Internet. 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:

World Wide Web: ``http://eelink.umich.edu''

World Wide Web: ``http://www.nceet.snre.umich.edu/grant.html''

The large number of proposals EPA received in past years

demonstrates the strong demand for funding environmental education

projects. Unfortunately, EPA alone cannot meet this demand. In

cooperation with EPA, the North American Association for Environmental

Education (NAAEE) has developed a publication called ``Grant Funding

For Your Environmental Education Program'' which provides strategies

for identifying potential sources of funding. This publication can be

purchased for a $5.00 fee by writing to NAAEE, Publications and Member

Services, P.O. Box 400, Troy, Ohio, 45373.

GG. How Can I Get Information on the Fiscal Year 1998 EPA Environmental

Education Grants Program?

EPA develops an entirely new mailing list for the grants program

each year. The Fiscal Year 1998 mailing list will include all

applicants who submitted proposals for Fiscal Year 1997 as well as

anyone else who specifically requests to be placed on the mailing list.

If you do not submit a proposal for Fiscal Year 1997 and you wish to be

added to our mailing list to receive information on the Fiscal Year

1998 Environmental Education Grants Program, you must 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 1998), 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.

Dated: December 9, 1996.

Denise Graveline,

Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Communications, Education,

and Public Affairs.

U.S. EPA Representatives and Mailing Addresses

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,

SW., Washington, DC 20460

Information:

George Walker, Environmental Education Specialist, 202-260-8619

U.S. EPA Regional Offices--For Proposals Requesting $25,000 or Less

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 8 am-4

pm)

Information:

Maria Pirie, EE Coordinator, 617-565-9447

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:

Bonnie Smith, EE Coordinator, 215-566-5543

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 (E2),

100 Alabama Street, SW., Atlanta, GA 30303

Information:

Fred Thornburg, Environmental Education 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:

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, Environmental Education

Coordinator (6XA), 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202

Information:

Jo Taylor, EE Coordinator, 214-665-2204

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 (80EA),

Denver, CO 80202-2466

Information:

Cece Forget, EE Coordinator, 303-312-6605

[[Page 65112]]

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), 415-744-1582

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

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