Environmental Education Grants (66.951)
Program
66.951 Environmental Education Grants
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONAGENCY
Authorization
National Environmental Education Act, Section 6; Public Law 101-619.
Program Number
66.951
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To support projects to design, demonstrate, or disseminate practices, methods, or techniques related to environmental education and training. Funding Priority: As required by Public Law 101-619, this grant program provides financial support for projects which design, demonstrate or disseminate environmental education practices, methods or techniques. Environmental Education Grants support schools, universities, state and local government environmental and educational agencies, tribal education agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Funding Priority: All grant projects must address one of the following educational priorities: (1) Capacity Building: Increasing capacity to develop and deliver coordinated environmental education programs across a state or across multiple states. Steps include developing effective leaders and organizations which create strategic plans to implement and link environmental education programs to promote long term programs and to decrease fragmentation of effort and duplication across programs; (2) Education Reform: Utilizing environmental education as a catalyst to advance state, local, or tribal education reform goals; (3) Community Issues: Designing and implementing model projects to educate the public about environmental issues and/or health issues in their communities through community-based organizations or through print, film, broadcast, or other media; (4) Health: Educating teachers, students, parents, community leaders, or the public about human-health threats from environmental pollution, especially as it affects children, and how to minimize human exposure to preserve good health; (5) Teaching Skills: Educating teachers, faculty, or non-formal educators about environmental issues to improve their environmental education teaching skills, e.g., through workshops; (6) Career Development: Educating students in formal or non-formal settings about environmental issues to encourage environmental careers; or (7) Environmental Justice: Educating low-income or culturally-diverse audiences about environmental issues, thereby advancing environmental justice.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Grant funds shall be used to establish an education program which shall include, at a minimum: (1) Design, demonstration, or dissemination of environmental curricula, including development of educational tools and materials; (2) design and demonstration of field methods, practices, and techniques, including assessment of environmental and ecological conditions and analysis of environmental and pollution problems; (3) projects to understand and assess a specific environmental issue or a specific environmental problem; (4) provision of training or related education for teachers, faculty, or related personnel in a specific geographic area or region; and (5) design and demonstration of projects to foster international cooperation in addressing environmental issues and problems involving the United States and Canada or Mexico. Priority will be given to those projects which will develop: (a) a new or significantly improved environmental education practice, method, or technique; (b) an environmental education practice, method, or technique which may have wide application; (c) an environmental education practice, method, or technique which addresses skill or scientific field identified as a priority in the report developed by the National Environmental Education Advisory Councils; and (d) an environmental education practice, method, or technique which addresses an environmental issue which, in the judgment of the Administrator, is of a high priority. More specific priorities are listed above under Objectives and are specified in the annual Solicitation Notice. No funds made available for this program shall be used for the acquisition of real property (including buildings) or the construction or substantial modification of anybuilding.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Local or Tribal education agency, college or university, State education agency or environmental agency, not-for- profit organization, or noncommercial educational broadcasting entity.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Education (0-8), education (9-12), education (13+), nonprofit institutions.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Standard application form SF 424 and 424A must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.12372.
Application Procedure
Application receipts will occur annually during early winter. Potential applicants may submit an application package to their respective Regional Grants Management Offices for grants requesting $25,000 or less and to the EPA Headquarters for grants requesting greater than $25,000 in Federal funds.
Award Procedure
Applications for a Federal share of $25,000 or less are to be submitted to the respective Regional Offices. Applications for a Federal share of greater than $25,000 are to be submitted to the Office of Environmental Education (1704A), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No.A-110.
Deadlines
For fiscal year 2004, a submission deadline will be determined if funding is made available. When appropriations are available, the due date is usually November 15. Grants are awarded in the Summer months.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Grants proposals are evaluated annually on a competitive basis. Therefore, applicants should not plan for renewals.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Federal funds for any project under this section shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of such project. The project has a 25 percent non-federal match required by statutory formula. For the purposes of this section, the non-federal share of project costs may be provided by cash or by in- kind contributions and other non cash support.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The Environmental Education program grants awarded by EPA Regional Offices may be requested for a 12-month period and the Headquarters grants may be for two years. However, some flexibility is possible depending upon the nature of the project. Activities must be completed within the time frame of the budget period. Concurrent grants to the same organization during the second year are not allowed.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Recipients of grants are expected to submit progress reports on at least a semi-annual basis. Final reports and two copies of all grants products are due within 90 days of the close of the budget period.
Audits
Projects are subject to inspection and audit by representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States and EPA or any authorized representative. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non- Profit Organizations. 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. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program- specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes to each assistance agreement must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA assistance accounts. All records must be maintained until the expiration of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as the result of an audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.
Program Accomplishments
Each year, Headquarters awards about 12 grants, and the ten EPA Regional Offices award about 20 each for a total of approximately 200grants.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304.
Obligations
FY 02 $2,800,000; FY 03 est $2,800,000; and FY 04 est not available.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Over 90% of these grants do not exceed $25,000 and almost none are for over $100,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
40 CFR Parts 7, 12, 30, 31, 32, 32 Subpart F, 33, 47; Federal Register (Annual Solicitation Notice); and Public Law101-619.
Related Programs
66.950, Environmental Education and Training Program.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Contact the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Diane Berger, Environmental Education Grant Program (1704A), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-0451.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
See www.epa.gov/enviroed for a complete list with descriptions by State.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Basis and priorities for selecting proposals are listed in Section 6 of Public Law 101-619, National Environmental Education Act, and in the annual Solicitation Notice which can be accessed at www.epa.gov/enviroed on the internet.
