Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem - Solving Grants Program (66.306)
Program
66.306 Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem - Solving Grants Program
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Authorization
Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3); Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442(c)(3); Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001(a); Clean Air Act, Section 103(b)(3); Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10(a); Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20(a); Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, Section 203.
Program Number
66.306
Last Known Status
Deleted 08/20/2009 (Not Specified.)
Objectives
The purpose of this program is to award grants to eligible community-based organizations in order for those organizations to develop projects which demonstrate the utility of the Federal Interagency Working Group Model on Collaborative Problem-Solving. EPA, through the OEJ, will provide financial assistance to those community-based organizations who wish to engage in capacity-building initiatives, and also constructive engagement and collaborative problem-solving to seek viable solutions for their community's environmental and/or public health issues. Funding Priority: The purpose of this grant program is to award grants to affected non-profit community-based organizations who are working on constructive engagement and collaborative problem-solving to address environmental and/or public health concerns in their communities or who are planning on doing so. A key starting point is the community's involvement in clearly formulating and articulating a goal to be accomplished, (e.g., the goal of the project might be the establishment of a health clinic or medical screening program; or the replacement of diesel buses with clean fuel buses). This may entail outreach and education to affected community residents and other stakeholders. Collaborative problem-solving involves an understanding of the need to seek other partners such as industry, Federal, state and local governments, academia, and environmental organizations to address the community's environmental and/or public health concerns. It involves developing strategic partnerships, by including all organizations which can play a role in addressing the problems. Collaborative problem-solving involves a well designed and strategic plan to sustain the partnership and to work toward addressing the environmental and/or public health issues.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Grant funds shall be used to support projects, programs or activities that promote environmental justice. The purpose, goals, and general procedures and guidelines for applying for the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving grants will be announced each year in a solicitation. OEJ's Environmental Justice CPS grants seek to accomplish a strategically defined set of objectives that address one or more environmental and/or public health issues by focusing on two key areas (e.g., capacity-building of the community residents, and forming collaborative partnerships). Any affected community-based organization, working on or planing to carry out projects to address local environmental and/or public health concerns, with non-profit status either demonstrated through designation by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization or incorporated as a non-profit under applicable state law may submit an application during the period of the solicitation. All awards will be made in the form of a grant in the amount of $100,000.00 to be used over a three-year period. To be eligible, you must be an affected local community-based organization. No funds made available for this program shall be used for the acquisition of real property (including building) or the construction or substantial modification of any building. Grant funds may not be used for lobbying or underwriting legal actions, including the preparation of court testimony and hiring of expert witnesses.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Affected community-based grassroots organizations. A local community-based organization is defined for this cooperative agreement program as an entity/organization that is: (1) at the most basic level of the organizational hierarchy such as a grassroots group/neighborhood organization that is not affiliated with a larger national, regional or state organization; (2) located in the same area as the environmental and/or public health problem that is described in the application and where the residents of the affected community reside; (3) focused primarily on addressing the environmental and/or public health problems of the residents of the affected community; and (4) comprised primarily of members of the affected community. Affected is defined as being in the locale which is influenced or altered by the environmental and/or public health problem. An applicant must meet all of the above requirements and must explain how its organization fits each of those requirements in the application. An applicant must be a nonprofit organization as demonstrated through designation by the Internal Revenue Service as a Section 501 (c)(3) organization or through incorporation as a nonprofit organization under applicable state law in order to receive Federal funds under this cooperative agreement program. The following entities are not eligible to receive Federal funds under this cooperative agreement program: individuals; universities; state governments; local governments; tribal governments; water districts or similar entities; large non-governmental organizations such as national environmental groups; environmental justice networks; and organizations that are not located in the affected communities where the projects are found.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Non-Profit Community Groups as described in 081 above.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Complete Applications as described in the solicitation, will include SF-424, SF-424A and B, 3 copies of Workplan, Detailed Itemized Budget, Certification Regarding Lobbying, Preaward Compliance Review Report, Biographical Sketches of Key Personnel, Quality Assurance Statement (if necessary) must be submitted to the EPA Office of Environmental Justice, Washington D.C. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or officials designed 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.
Application Procedure
Potential applicants are to submit their original application package plus 2 copies to the Office of Environmental Justice, Washington, DC 20460 by September 30, 2005.
Award Procedure
Applications must be submitted to the Office of Environmental Justice by the specified date in order to be eligible. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-110.
Deadlines
Applicants selected for award will be notified and may be requested to furnish additional information, if needed. For fiscal year 2005 the postmark must be by September 30, 2005.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
About 150 days.
Appeals
Appeals are subject to the provisions of 40 CFR Part 31, Subpart F and 40 CFR Part 30.63.
Renewals
These are one time awards of $100,000 each to be completed over the course of three years.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The project grants will be awarded for a 3 year project period. Activities must be completed within the time frame of the project's budget period.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Recipients of grants are expected to participate in monthly conference calls, submit quarterly status reports, annual reports, and a final report for EPA approval prior to receipt of the balance of grant funds.
Audits
Grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspections and audits by the Comptroller General of the United States, the EPA Office of Inspector General, other EPA staff or any authorized representative of the Federal government. Reviews by the EPA Project Officer and the Grants Specialist may occur each year. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, non-federal entities that expend $300,000 ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003) or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-federal entities that expend less than $300,000 ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003) a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB 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 Financial Status 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
New Program.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304.
Obligations
FY 03 $1,500,000; FY 04 $1,500,000; and FY 05 est $1,500,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Not applicable.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
40 CFR Parts 7, 12, 29, 30, 31, 32, 32(F), 33; and Public Law 101-619.
Related Programs
66.950, Environmental Education and Training Program; 66.951, Environmental Education Grants; 66.604, Environmental Justice Hazardous Substances Research Small Grants to Community Groups.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Contact the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.
Headquarters Office
Director, Office of Environmental Justice, (2201A), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-2515. Environmental Justice Hotline: 1-800-962-6215.
Web Site Address
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/
Examples of Funded Projects
30 projects have been awarded under this program. Visit web site under 153 above for examples of successful projects.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
EPA will determine if the applicant meets specific administrative and management requirements. EPA will review a description of the applicant's history, goals, and plans for using the assistance funds. Factors that are particularly important in this evaluation process include: (1) The applicant must qualify as an affected community-based organization as described in 081 above; (2) Whether or not the applicant group is designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization or incorporated as a non-profit under applicable state law; (3) The degree to which the applicant groups' members health and economic well-being of the environment are adversely affected by environmental hazardous exposure; (4) The applicant's ability to inform others in the community of the information gathered; (5) Broad representation of affected groups and individuals in the community; (6) The applicant's ability to manage the grant in compliance with EPA grant regulations; In general, the applicant must demonstrate that it is aware of the time commitment, resources, and dedication needed to successfully manage a grant.
