Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention (CEPP) Technical Assistance Grants Program (66.810)
Program
66.810 Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention (CEPP) Technical Assistance Grants Program
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF SOLID WASTE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONAGENCY
Authorization
Clean Air Act Section 103 (b)(3) and Section 112 (l)(4); Toxic Substances Control Act, Sections 10(a), and 28(a), Public Law 94-469, 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.
Program Number
66.810
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To provide financial assistance to States, Local agencies, and Indian Tribes for chemical accident prevention activities that relate to the Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act Section 112(r). To provide financial assistance to Tribes for chemical emergency planning, and community right-to-know programs which are established to prevent or eliminate unreasonable risk to the health and environment of communities within the State. Funding Priority: (1) Capacity Building: Increase capacity at the State, Tribe, or local level to implement and enforce the Chemical Accident Prevention provisions of the Clean Air Act Section 112(r)and to integrate chemical accident prevention activities; chemical emergency planning efforts, and community right-to-know programs. (2) Community Issues: Development of model technical assistance materials for use by States/Tribes or Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) to evaluate potential chemical risks to their communities and to take appropriate prevention and preparedness steps to protect the community. (3) Partnerships: Strengthening partnerships among States/Tribes and Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs), industry, emergency responders, and the general public to foster collaboration and build credibility for chemical prevention and preparedness activities.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants; Cooperative Agreements.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Innovative Technical Assistance Grants are offered to improve the ability of States, Tribes and local communities to protect public health and safety and involve the development of technical assistance or similar materials that could be used directly or adapted by other States/Tribes or Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs). Projects which address implementing the Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act Section 112(r) are especially of interest. The grant money may not supplant State or Tribal funds already beingspent.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
States, Local agencies District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Island, Northern Mariana Islands, and Federally Recognized IndianTribes.
Beneficiary Eligibility
States, Tribes, Local Emergency Planning Committees, and local emergency responders.
Credentials/Documentation
OMB Circular No. A-87 is required for thisprogram.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Discussion with the EPA Regional Office is advisable. For more information, contact the Grants Program Manager, Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO) (5104), EPA, Washington, DC 20460. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Applicants should consult the appropriate Regional CEPP contact to see whether grants are available in the Region. Local agencies can submit applications directly toEPA.
Application Procedure
States, Local agencies, and Indian Tribes must submit the original completed application package and one copy to appropriate EPA RegionalOffice.
Award Procedure
Grant applications will undergo the following review process. EPA Regional Office staff will evaluate each application and, based on the criteria established will select proposal(s) for funding. EPA Regional offices will be awarding the grants. The review process will concentrate on choosing the best project concepts. Once the grant is awarded to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), Tribal emergency Response Commission (TERC), directly to the local agencies such as the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), or other State agency with SERC coordination as appropriate, EPA will monitor the work in progress and provide project guidance and oversight to the State, Local agencies, andTribes.
Deadlines
Contact the Headquarters or Regional Office, as appropriate, for applicationdeadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Appeals are subject to the provisions of Part 31 SubpartF.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula. There is a 25 percent match requirement for assistance agreements awarded to States under the Toxic Substances Control Act, Section28.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants will normally be funded on a 12 to 24 month basis. Total approved project period should not exceed 2 years for a particular project. A call for letters of intent and applications will be advertised annually via Regions notifying States, Local agencies, andTribes.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Reports will be required on a quarterly basis to describe applicant'sprogress.
Audits
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A- 133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," was published in the Federal Register on June 30, 1997. The Circular implements the Single Audit Act amendments of 1996. The Circular requires nonfederal entities that expend more than $300,000 in Federal award dollars, to have an audit conducted in accordance with the Circular's provisions. With the revised Circular, the previous OMB Circular No. A-128 for single audits of State and local governments was rescinded and the single audit requirements for these entities were incorporated among the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133.
Records
Not applicable.
Program Accomplishments
During fiscal year 2002, 10 grant awards were made to States and Indian Tribes for chemical accident prevention andpreparedness.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304.
Obligations
FY 02 $400,000; FY 03 est $220,000; and FY 04 est $220,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$30,000 to $100,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to States and Local Government (40 CFR Part31.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Any inquiries, contact the CEPP Coordinators as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Sherry Fielding, Grant Program Manager, CEPPO/OSWER (5104A), EPA HQ, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-6174.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Development of a comprehensive implementation and enforcement strategy for an accidental release prevention program which includes how the 112(r) program will be integrated with other State and Local programs; Development of Legislative authority, regulations, and/or documentation needed for approval of a 112(r) program for State or Local accident prevention for all sources or for some sources; Educational Videos: Each video describes to the viewer where the specific hazardous substance may be found in the community and potential business types that would and would not need to comply; Hazardous Vulnerability Analysis Plan: Describes the geographic area of the Tribe, the potential hazards facing the Tribe, and the emergency response capabilities/servicesavailable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
In evaluating State, Local agencies, and Tribal applications for grants under this program, EPA will consider the following factors: (1) Potential Benefit to the chosen geographic area, State, Local agencies or Tribe. Full or partial delegation of the 112(r) program is considered. The projects should build State or Tribal, and local capabilities. (2) Technical Soundness for addressing the identified problems and feasibility of implementation. (3) Priority Need must be demonstrated by State, Local agency, or Tribal applicants for assistance. Willingness to implement or support activities to implement the 112(r) program is considered. Determination of this priority need will consider, to the extent feasible, the extent to which chemical accidents pose a risk to the community within the State or Tribe. Risk factors include high population, high industrial concentration, natural hazards (e.g., earthquake zones), accident history, and existing preparedness, prevention and response capabilities. EPA will favorably consider grants that concentrate on implementation activities related to the 112(r)program.
