U.S.-Mexico Border Grants; Request for Proposals

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6417-7]

U.S.-Mexico Border Grants; Request for Proposals

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requesting grant

proposals from U.S. nongovernment organizations, municipalities,

federally recognized tribes, communities, higher education facilities,

and schools for projects within the U.S.-Mexico Border region, that

area within 100 km on either side of the inland and maritime U.S.-

Mexico border as defined in the La Paz Agreement (1983).

DATES: The original proposal plus one (1) copy must be mailed to the

appropriate regional contact (see below) for the state in which the

project will occur no later than October 22, 1999. Proposals received

after that date will not be considered for funding. EPA expects to

announce grant awards in January 2000. Applicants should anticipate

project start dates no earlier than March 1, 2000. Grants will be

managed separately by EPA staff in Region 6 and Region 9.

ADDRESSES: Grant Applications should be submitted to: Region 6 (TX,

NM): Gina Weber, U.S.-Mexico Border Coordinator (6WQ-D); U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6; 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite

1200, Dallas, TX 75202-2733; Telephone: 214-665-8188; Email:

[email protected].

Region 9 (CA, AZ): Wendy Laird-Benner, U.S.-Mexico Border

Coordinator (WTR4); U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9; 75

Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-3901; Telephone: 415-744-

1168; Email: [email protected].

Additional copies of this grant application can also be obtained

through the EPA Border Liaison Offices located in El Paso (915-533-

7273) or San Diego (619-235-4765). Or call 1-800-334-0741.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Region 6 (TX, NM): Gina Weber, U.S.-

Mexico Border Coordinator (6WQ-D); Telephone: 214-665-8188; Email:

[email protected]

Region 9 (CA, AZ): Wendy Laird-Benner, U.S.-Mexico Border

Coordinator (WTR4); Telephone: 415-744-1168; Email: laird-

[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

This is a regionally managed grants program whose goals and

objectives directly relate to and are linked with the Border XXI

Program. Successful grant applications will meet objectives of the

Border XXI Program as outlined in the U.S.-Mexico Border XXI Program

Framework Document and/or the annual Implementation Plans (1996, 1997-

1998, 1998). The mission of the Border XXI Program is to protect public

health and natural resources, and encourage sustainable development

along the U.S.-Mexico border. For purposes of this grants program,

sustainable development is defined as ``conservation oriented social

and economic development that emphasizes the protection and sustainable

use of resources, while addressing both current and future needs, and

present and future impacts of human actions as defined in the Border

XXI environmental program developed by U.S. and Mexican authorities'

(for further information see the Border Environmental Cooperation

Commission Project Certification Criteria). This definition is based on

the

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internationally accepted sustainable development definition from the

Rio Declaration on Environment and Development: development that meets

the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their own needs.

A total of $250,000 will be awarded for ten (10) grants not to

exceed $25,000 each. Each Region expects to award five (5) grants. The

project period is for one (1) year upon award of the grant. US EPA

Region 6 and Region 9 will jointly manage the U.S.-Mexico Border Grants

Program.

Entities receiving grants under this program are required to

contribute a minimum 5% matching share (in dollars or in-kind goods/

services). The U.S.-Mexico Border Grants Program strongly encourages

partnering with community members, business, and government agencies to

work cooperatively to identify and develop innovative, effective and

efficient projects.

Eligibility

Applicants who are eligible to receive these grants include, but

are not limited to, the following: U.S. county and city governments,

U.S. councils of government, U.S. Indian tribes, U.S. nongovernment

organizations, and U.S. schools and universities. Special consideration

will be given to U.S. counties, schools, community colleges, and

nongovernment organizations who meet the above criteria and submit a

complete proposal by the stated deadline.

No awards will be granted for the purchase of equipment for

projects or for maintaining existing equipment.

Applicants must identify the environmental statute the project will

address. Projects must fall within one of the below environmental

statutes:

a. Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3): conduct and promote research

investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and

studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction,

and elimination of water pollution.

b. Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442(b)(3): develop, expand, or

carry out a program (that may combine training, education, and

employment) for occupations relating to the public health aspects of

providing safe drinking water.

c. Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001(a): conduct and promote

the coordination of research, investigations, experiments, training,

demonstrations, surveys, public education programs and studies relating

to solid waste.

d. Clean Air Act, Section 103(b)(3): conduct and promote the

coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments,

demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects

(including health and welfare effects), extent, prevention, and control

of air pollution.

e. Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10(a): conduct research,

development of monitoring activities on toxic substances.

f. Comprehensive Environmental Response and Sanctuaries Act,

Section 311(a): conduct basic research and training related to the

detection, assessment, and evaluation of the risks and human effects of

exposure to hazardous substances.

Applications

The original and one (1) copy of the project proposal must be sent

to the regional contact listed below for the state in which the project

will take place. Proposals are limited to one (1) cover page and a five

(5) page, double spaced narrative of the proposed project. Proposals

must include the following:

(1) Cover Sheet (not to exceed one page) that must include:

(a) Project title;

(b) Applicant's name, address, phone number and organization type

(i.e. community college, nongovernment organization, tribe);

(c) A list identifying project staff;

(d) A list of entities or organizations that will be providing

matching funds to the project and their organization type; and

(e) Environmental statute that the project will address (see

Eligibility above).

(2) Narrative (not to exceed five pages, double spaced) that must

include:

(a) Project goals;

(b) Workplan;

(c) Proposed schedule for the workplan;

(d) Anticipated results, measures of success, and ``where

possible-- anticipated environmental improvements as a direct result of

project implementation;

(e) Budget (i.e., salaries, supplies, travel, consultants, other

direct costs, and overhead); and

(f) Plan for evaluating the success of the project.

The proposal must also include letters of commitment from all

contributing partners matching funds to the project. These letters must

specify the nature of the match (whether it is in-kind services or

cash) and the estimated dollar value of the match. These attachments

will not be counted in the five (5) page narrative limit. Any other

attachments or enclosures will not be considered as part of the

proposal.

Final Report

Upon completion of the project, one (1) final report will be

required which includes the following information: (a) description of

project results, including an evaluation of overall project performance

and any environmental improvements directly resulting from project

implementation, and (b) financial report. Grants are subject to audit.

Criteria

EPA will use the following evaluation criteria in reviewing

proposals (weighting of each criterion is indicated in parentheses):

The application presents a clear description of a U.S.-

Mexico border transboundary issue or concern (20 points);

The application identifies realistic goals in addressing

objectives and priorities as outlined in the U.S.-Mexico Border XXI

Program Framework Document and/or annual Implementation Plans (20

points);

The proposed project focuses on sustainable development,

practices and improvements in the following areas: environmental

health, risk reduction, hazardous and solid waste reduction, recycling,

and water conservation at the local and/or regional level, defined

above (20 points);

The proposal outlines how the applicant will measure

improvements in one or more of the above mentioned areas resulting from

implementation of the project (15 points);

The application involves a number and variety of bi-

national and U.S.-Mexico border collaborators (i.e., community,

nongovernment organizations, Indian tribes, local and regional

governments, schools, and universities) (15 points);

Project funding will be utilized as seed money, supporting

innovative projects that would empower communities to take an integral

role in protecting their environment (10 points).

No awards will be granted for the purchase of equipment for

projects or for maintaining existing equipment.

Dated: August 10, 1999.

Alan D. Hecht,

Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of International

Activities.

[FR Doc. 99-21168 Filed 8-13-99; 8:45 am]

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