[Federal Register: March 1, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 40)]
[Notices]
[Page 9592-9596]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01mr04-47]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 030602141-4026-06; 061703A]
RIN 0648-ZB55
Availability of Grant Funds for Fiscal Year 2004; Republication
Editorial Note: Due to numerous errors, this document is being
reprinted in its entirety. It was originally printed in the Federal
Register on Thursday, February 12, 2004, at 69 FR 6942-6946.
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Omnibus Notice Announcing the Availability of Grant Funds for
Fiscal Year 2004.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
announces a third availability of grant funds for Fiscal Year 2004.
This notice provides the general public program and application
information related to the Agency's competitive grant offerings, and it
contains the information about those programs required to be published
in the Federal Register. It should be noted that additional program
initiatives unanticipated at the time of the publication of this notice
may be announced through both subsequent Federal Register notices and
the NOAA Web site: http://www.ofa.noaa.gov/~amd/SOLINDEX.HTML.
DATES: Proposals must be received by the date and time indicated under
each program listing in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted to the addresses listed in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for each program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the full funding
opportunity announcement and/or application kit, please contact the
person listed as the information contact under each program or access
it via NOAA's Web site: http://www.ofa.noaa.gov/~amd/SOLINDEX.HTML.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
NOAA published its first omnibus notice announcing the availability
of grant funds for both projects and fellowships/scholarships/
internships for Fiscal Year 2004 in the Federal Register on June 30,
2003 (68 FR 38678). The evaluation criteria and selection procedures
contained in the June 30, 2003, omnibus notice are applicable to this
solicitation. For a copy of the June 30, 2003, omnibus notice, please
go to: http://www.ofa.noaa.gov/~amd/SOLINDEX.HTML.
Electronic Access
The full funding announcement for each program is available via Web
site http://www.ofa.noaa.gov/~amd/SOLINDEX.HTML or by contacting
the program official identified below. These announcements will also be
available through FedGrants at http://www.fedgrants.gov.
NOAA Project Competitions
This third omnibus notice describes funding opportunities for the
following NOAA discretionary grant programs:
National Marine Fisheries Service
1. Right Whale Research Grants Program (RWRGP)
Summary Description: The North Atlantic right whale is among the
world's most endangered cetaceans. The population is believed to number
only about 300 individuals and appears to be declining. The lack of
recovery is due in part to high mortality from human sources, notably
fishing gear entanglements and vessel collisions. A Recovery Plan is in
effect, and conservation of this species is a high priority for NOAA
Fisheries. Research directed at facilitating such conservation or to
provide monitoring of the population's status and health, is also a
high priority for the agency. The RWRGP is conducted by NOAA to provide
Federal assistance to eligible researchers for: (1) Detection and
tracking of right whales; (2) behavior of right whales in relation to
ships; (3) relationships between vessel speed, size or design with
whale collisions; (4) modeling of ship traffic along the Atlantic
coast; (5) population monitoring and assessment studies; (6)
reproduction, health and genetic studies; (7) development of a
Geographic Information System database or other system designed to
investigate predictive modeling of right whale distribution in relation
to environmental variables; (8) habitat quality studies including food
quality and pollutant levels; and (9) any other work relevant to the
recovery of North Atlantic right whales.
Funding Availability: This solicitation announces that a maximum of
$2.0M may be available for distribution under the FY 2004 RWRGP, in
award amounts to be determined by the proposals and available funds.
Applicants are hereby given notice that funds have not yet been
appropriated for this program. There is no guarantee that sufficient
funds will be available to make awards
[[Page 9593]]
for all qualified projects. The exact amount of funds that may be
awarded will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the
applicant and NOAA representatives. Publication of this notice does not
oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available
funds. There is no set minimum or maximum amount for any award, and
there is no limit on the number of applications that can be submitted
by the same researcher during the 2004 competitive grant cycle.
However, there are insufficient funds to award financial assistance to
every applicant. If an application for a financial assistance award is
selected for funding, NOAA/NMFS has no obligation to provide any
additional funding in connection with that award in subsequent years.
Statutory Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1380.
CFDA: 11.472, Unallied Science Programs.
Application Deadline: Proposals must be postmarked by 5 p.m.
eastern time on April 12, 2004.
Address for Submitting Proposals: NOAA Fisheries Right Whale Grants
Program, Protected Species Branch, Northeast Fisheries Science Center,
166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, 508-495-2316.
Information Contact(s): Dr. Phillip J. Clapham, Northeast Fisheries
Science Center, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543, 508 495-2316,
e-mail rightwhalegrants@noaa.gov.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants are individuals, institutions of
higher education, other nonprofits, commercial organizations,
international organizations, foreign governments, organizations under
the jurisdiction of foreign governments, and State, local and Indian
tribal governments. Federal agencies, or employees of Federal agencies
are not eligible to apply.
Cost Sharing Requirements: No cost sharing is required under this
program.
Applications under this program are subject to Executive Order
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
National Ocean Service
1. Bay Watershed Education & Training (B-WET) Program, Hawaiian Islands
Summary Description: The B-WET grant program is a competitively
based program that supports existing environmental education programs,
fosters the growth of new programs, and encourages the development of
partnerships among environmental education programs throughout the
Hawaiian Islands. Funded projects provide ``meaningful'' outdoor
experiences for students and professional development opportunities for
teachers in the area of environmental education.
Funding Availability: This solicitation announces that
approximately $400,000 may be available for FY 2004 in award amounts to
be determined by the proposals and available funds. It is anticipated
that approximately 10 grants will be awarded with these funds. About
$200,000 will be for proposals that provide opportunities for students
to participate in a ``meaningful'' outdoor experience. About $200,000
will be for proposals that provide opportunities for professional
development in the area of environmental education for teachers.
Proposals may be submitted for up to 3 years. However, funds will be
made available for only a 12-month award period. The Pacific Services
Center may review the grants funded under this announcement pending
submission of successful proposals subject to technical and panel
review, adequate progress on previous award(s) and/or site visits, and
available funding.
Statutory Authority: 33 U.S.C. 883d, 15 U.S.C. 1540.
CFDA: 11.473, Coastal Services Center.
Application Deadline: Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Pacific
time on March 29, 2004.
Address for Submitting Proposals: Monterey Bay National Marine
Sanctuary Office; 299 Foam Street, Monterey, CA 93940. Facsimile
transmissions and electronic mail submission of proposals will not be
accepted.
Information Contact: Seaberry Nachbar, phone 831-647-4201, fax 831-
647-4250, Internet at seaberry.nachbar@noaa.gov.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants for both areas of interest
(``meaningful outdoor experience'' and professional development in the
area of environmental education for teachers) are K-through-12 public
and independent schools and school systems, institutions of higher
education, commercial and nonprofit organizations, State or local
government agencies, and Indian tribal governments. Applicants that are
not eligible are individuals and Federal agencies.
Cost Sharing Requirements: No cost sharing is required under this
program; however, the Pacific Services Center strongly encourages
applicants to share as much of the costs of the award as possible.
Funds from other Federal awards may not be considered matching funds.
The nature of the contribution (cash versus in-kind) and the amount of
matching funds will be taken into consideration in the review process
with cash being the preferred method of contribution.
Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are not
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.''
2. Bay Watershed Education & Training (B-WET) Program, Monterey Bay
Watershed
Summary Description: The B-WET grant program is a competitively
based program that supports existing environmental education programs,
fosters the growth of new programs, and encourages the development of
partnerships among environmental education programs throughout the
Monterey Bay watershed. Funded projects provide ``meaningful'' outdoor
experiences for students and professional development opportunities for
teachers in the area of environmental education.
Funding Availability: This solicitation announces that
approximately $475,000 may be available in FY 2004 in award amounts to
be determined by the proposals and available funds. It is anticipated
that approximately 15 grants will be awarded with these funds. About
$250,000 will be for proposals that provide opportunities for students
to participate in a ``meaningful'' outdoor experience. About $225,000
will be for proposals that provide opportunities for professional
development in the area of environmental education for teachers.
Proposals may be submitted for up to 3 years. However, funds will be
made available for only a 12-month award period and any renewal of the
award period will depend on submission of a successful proposal subject
to technical and panel review, adequate progress on previous award(s),
and available funding to renew the award. The NMSP may renew the grants
funded under this announcement pending submission of successful
proposals subject to technical and panel reviews, adequate progress on
previous award(s) and/or site visits, and available funding.
Statutory Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1440.
CFDA: 11.429, Marine Sanctuary Program.
Application Deadline: Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. Pacific
time on March 29, 2004.
Address for Submitting Proposals: Monterey Bay National Marine
Sanctuary Office; 299 Foam Street, Monterey, CA 93940. Facsimile
transmissions and electronic mail submission of proposals will not be
accepted.
[[Page 9594]]
Information Contact: Seaberry Nachbar, phone 831-647-4201, fax 831-
647-4250, Internet at seaberry.nachbar@noaa.gov.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants for both areas of interest
(``meaningful outdoor experiences'' and professional development in the
area of environmental education for teachers) are K-through-12 public
and independent schools and school systems, institutions of higher
education, commercial and nonprofit organizations, State or local
government agencies, and Indian tribal governments. Applicants that are
not eligible are individuals and Federal agencies.
Cost Sharing Requirements: No cost sharing is required under this
program; however, the National Marine Sanctuary Program strongly
encourages applicants to share as much of the costs of the award as
possible. Funds from other Federal awards may not be considered
matching funds. The nature of the contribution (cash versus in-kind)
and the amount of matching funds will be taken into consideration in
the review process with cash being the preferred method of
contribution.
Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are not
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.''
3. FY2004 Coastal Services Center Technical Assistance for Coastal
Managers Program
Summary Description: The Technical Assistance for Coastal Managers
program represents an NOAA/CSC effort to improve the use of monitoring
data and geospatial information and technology in coastal management
through collaborative work with members of the coastal management
community that have expertise in community planning and resource
management. These activities will engage coastal managers from multiple
organizations and levels of government and improve the management of
coastal resources by applying geospatial knowledge, practices, and
principles to new approaches for managing coastal resources. The
Technical Assistance for Coastal Managers program contributes to other
efforts at the NOAA/CSC and is designed to complement those efforts.
Five program priorities will be targeted as a result of this
announcement. They are:
(1) Increasing coordination and planning between local land trusts,
State agencies, and regional planning agencies within New England.
(2) Development of a nationally consistent inventory system for
geospatial data at the state level.
(3) Increasing education and research opportunities in the
application of CIS and remote-sensing technologies to coastal resource
management, with emphasis on recruiting under-represented minorities.
(4) Incorporation of seagrass into the monitoring of the health of
special management areas.
(5) Pilot projects supporting the Data Management and
Communications component of the Integrated Ocean Observing System.
NOAA/CSC will give sole attention to individual proposals that
address one or more of the program priorities described above.
Proposals must clearly specify which program priority is being
addressed. A proposal must contain tasks that address each element
listed for the priority chosen. All awards will be in the form of a
cooperative agreement, which allows the NOAA/CSC to have substantial
involvement in the projects in addition to providing funds. Applicants
must propose a role for the NOAA/CSC that constitutes the substantial
involvement listed for that priority.
The names, affiliations, and phone numbers of relevant NOAA/CSC
personnel are provided below. Prospective applicants should communicate
with these focal points to ensure the role specified for the NOAA/CSC
is practicable. Focal points cannot assist in the conceptual design of
the project nor can they help with the design of specific elements
included in a proposal.
Funding Availability for FY2004: This funding opportunity announces
that approximately $1,750,000 will be available through this
announcement for fiscal year 2004 for cooperative agreements. Proposals
should be prepared assuming a total budget of no more than $500,000 for
priorities (1) and (4), and $125,000 for priorities (2), (3), and (5).
It is expected that one award will be made for priority areas (1)
through (4) and up to three awards for priority (5), depending on
availability of funds.
Statutory Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1456c and 33 U.S.C 1442.
CFDA: 11.473, Coastal Services Center.
Application Deadline: Applicants applying for Federal assistance
under the Technical Assistance for Coastal Managers Program, must
submit their applications by 5 p.m. local time March 15, 2004.
Address for Submitting Proposals: Coastal Services Center, 2234
South Hobson Avenue, Charleston, South Carolina 29405-2413 to the
attention of Violet Legette, room 218.
Information Contact(s): For administrative questions on all five
program priorities, contact Violet Legette, NOAA CSC, 2234 South Hobson
Avenue, Room 218, Charleston, South Carolina 29405-2413, or by phone at
843-740-1222, or by fax 843-740-1232, or via Internet at
Violet.Legette@noaa.gov. For technical questions on program priorities
(1), (2), and (3), contact Hamilton Smillie, NOAA CSC, 2234 South
Hobson Avenue, Room 153, Charleston, South Carolina 29405-2413, or by
phone at 843-740-1192, or by fax 843-740-1315, or via Internet at
Hamilton.Smillie@noaa.gov. For technical questions on program priority
(4), contact Pace Wilber, NOAA CSC, 2234 South Hobson Avenue, Room
234B, Charleston, South Carolina 29405-2413, or by phone at 843-740-
1235, or by fax 843-740-1315, or via Internet at Pace.Wilber@noaa.gov.
For technical questions on program priority (5), contact Anne Ball,
NOAA CSC, 2234 South Hobson Avenue, Room 211, Charleston, South
Carolina 29405-2413, or by phone at 843-740-1229, or by fax 843-740-
1315, or via Internet at Anne.Ball@noaa.gov.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants are institutions of higher
education, hospitals, other non-profits, commercial organizations,
foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign
governments, international organizations, and State, local and Indian
tribal governments. Federal agencies or institutions are not eligible
to receive Federal assistance under this announcement.
Cost Sharing Requirements: None.
Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.''
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
1. NOAA Educational Partnership Program With Minority Serving
Institutions: Environmental Entrepreneurship Program
Summary Description: The goal of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Educational Partnership Program with
Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) is to strengthen the capacity
of Minority Serving Institutions to foster student careers,
entrepreneurship opportunities and advanced academic degrees in
sciences directly related to NOAA's mission. The
[[Page 9595]]
Environmental Entrepreneurship Program is designed to support education
and training programs to engage students in applying the necessary
skills, tools, methods and technologies in sciences directly related to
NOAA's mission. This includes fostering educational opportunities in
coastal, oceanic, atmospheric, environmental sciences, and remote
sensing technology, coupled with training in economics, marketing,
product development, and services to create jobs, businesses, and
economic development opportunities. The Environmental Entrepreneurship
Program promotes partnerships with MSIs, NOAA and the public-private
sector.
Funding Availability: Subject to appropriations, approximately $3
million will be available for the Environmental Entrepreneurship
Program competition in 2004. Proposals are limited to a total of
$500,000 for a maximum of three years and approximately six proposals
will be funded.
Statutory Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1540.
CFDA: 11.481 Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving
Institutions.
Application Deadline: Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. eastern
time on March 15, 2004.
Address for Submitting Applications: NOAA EPP/MSI: Environmental
Entrepreneurship Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Room 10725, SSMC3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver
Spring, MD 20910. Facsimile transmissions and electronic mail
submission of proposals will not be accepted.
Information Contact: Jewel G. Linzey, Program Manager,
Environmental Entrepreneurship Program, (301) 713-9437, ext. 118,
facsimile (301) 713-9465, e-mail Jewel.Griffin-Linzey@noaa.gov.
Eligibility: Minority Serving Institutions eligible to submit
proposals include institutions of higher education identified by the
Department of Education as:
(i) Historically black colleges and universities,
(ii) Hispanic-serving institutions,
(iii) Tribal colleges and universities,
(iv) Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian serving institutions
on the most recent ``2003 United States Department of Education
Accredited Post-Secondary Minority Institutions'' list: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst.html
.
Cost Sharing Requirements: There is no cost-sharing requirement.
Intergovernmental Review: Applications under this program are not
subject to Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.''
Limitation of Liability
In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible
for proposal preparation costs if these programs fail to receive
funding or are 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.
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 and implementing
feasible measures to reduce or avoid any identified adverse
environmental impacts of their proposal. The failure to do so shall be
grounds for the denial of an application.
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award 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 use of Standard Forms
424, 424A, 424B, SF-LLL, and CD-346 has been approved by 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: February 5, 2004.
John J. Kelly, Jr.,
Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-3083 Filed 2-11-04; 8:45 am]
Editorial Note: Due to numerous errors, this document is being
reprinted in its entirety. It was originally printed in the
[[Page 9596]]
Federal Register on Thursday, February 12, 2004, at 69 FR 6942-6949.
[FR Doc. R4-3083 Filed 2-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1505-01-D