[Federal Register: February 16, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 33)]
[Notices]
[Page 10686-10687]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16fe01-66]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-00698; FRL-6767-6]
Notice of Availability of Region III Strategic Agricultural
Initiative Grants
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: EPA Region III is announcing the availability of
approximately $200,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2001 grant/cooperative
agreement funds under section 20 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) as amended, (the Act), for grants to States
and federally recognized Native American Tribes for research, public
education, training, monitoring, demonstrations, and studies. For
convenience, the term ``State'' in this notice refers to all eligible
applicants.
DATES: In order to be considered for funding during the FY 2001 award
cycle, all applications must be received by EPA Region III on or before
March 19, 2001. EPA will make its award decisions by March 30, 2001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Racine L. Davis, Environmental
Protection Agency, Region III, Mail Code 3WC32, 1650 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029; telephone: (215) 814-5797; e-mail address:
davis.racine@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Does this Action Apply to Me?
This action is directed to the public in general. This action may,
however, be of interest to eligible applicants who primarily operate
out of and will conduct the project in one of the following Region III
States: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Virginia, and West Virginia.
II. Availability of FY 2001 Funds
With this publication, EPA Region III is announcing the
availability of approximately $200,000 in grant/cooperative agreement
funds for FY 2001. The Agency has delegated grant making authority to
the EPA Regional Offices. EPA Region III is responsible for the
solicitation of interest, the screening of proposals, and the selection
of projects. Grant guidance will be provided to all applicants along
with any supplementary information Region III may wish to provide. All
applicants must address the criteria listed under Unit IV.B. of this
document. Interested applicants should contact the Regional Strategic
Agricultural Initiative coordinator listed under Unit V. of this
document for more information.
III. Eligible Applicants
In accordance with the Act ``. . . Federal agencies, universities,
or others as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the act, . .
.'' are eligible to receive a grant. Eligible applicants for purposes
of funding under this grant program include those operating within the
six EPA Region III states (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia), any agency or
instrumentality of a Region III State including State universities and
non-profit organizations operating within a Region III state. For
convenience, the term ``State'' in this notice refers to all eligible
applicants.
IV. Activities and Criteria
A. General
The goal of the Strategic Agricultural Initiative Grant Program is
to reduce the risks and use of pesticides in agricultural settings.
Another goal is to rapidly spread available technology and information
about ways to reduce dependence on the more highly toxic pesticides.
B. Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
1. Qualifications and experience of the applicant relative to the
proposed project.
Does the applicant demonstrate experience in the field of
the proposed activity?
Does the applicant have the properly trained staff,
facilities, or infrastructure in place to conduct the project?
2. Consistency of applicant's proposed project with the risk
reduction goals of Strategic Agricultural Initiative.
3. Provision for a quantitative or qualitative evaluation of the
project's success at achieving the stated goals.
Is the project designed in such a way that it is possible
to measure and document the results quantitatively and qualitatively?
Does the applicant identify the method that will be used
to measure and document the project's results quantitatively and
qualitatively?
Will the project assess or suggest a means for measuring
progress in reducing risk associated with the use of pesticides?
4. Likelihood the project can be replicated to benefit other
communities or the product may have broad utility to a widespread
audience. Can this project, taking into account typical staff and
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financial restraints, be replicated by similar organizations in
different locations to address the same or similar problem?
C. Program Management
Awards of FY 2001 funds will be managed through EPA Region III.
D. Contacts
Interested applicants must contact the appropriate EPA Regional
Strategic Agricultural Initiative coordinator listed under Unit V. of
this document to obtain specific instructions, regional criteria, and
guidance for submitting proposals.
V. Region III Strategic Agricultural Initiative Program Contact
Region III: (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia), Racine Davis, (3WC32), 1650
Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19103; telephone: (215) 814-5797; e-mail
address: davis.racine@epa.gov.
VI. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General
Under the Agency's current interpretation of the definition of a
``rule,'' grant solicitations such as this which are competitively
awarded on the basis of selection criteria, are considered rules for
the purpose of the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The CRA, 5 U.S.C.
801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), generally provides that before a rule
may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule
report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the
Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will
submit a report containing this rule and other required information to
the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller
General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the
Federal Register. This rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5
U.S.C. 804(2).
List of Subjects
Environmental protection.
Dated: February 2, 2001.
Thomas Voltaggio,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 01-3986 Filed 2-15-01 8:45 am]
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