Environmental Justice Grants to Small Community Groups (66.604)
Program
66.604 Environmental Justice Grants to Small Community Groups
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Authorization
Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3); Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442(b)(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); Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Section 311(c); Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, Section 203.
Program Number
66.604
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To provide financial assistance to grassroots community-based groups to support projects to design, demonstrate or disseminate practices, methods or techniques related to environmental justice. Specifically, EPA will grant funding assistance to be used for: 1. environmental justice education and awareness programs; 2. environmental justice programs (for example, river monitoring and pollution prevention programs); 3. technical assistance in gathering and interpreting existing environmental justice data; and 4. technical assistance to access available public information.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Grant funds shall be used to support projects, programs or activities that promote environmental justice. Projects may include: 1. design, demonstration, or dissemination of environmental justice curricula, including development of education 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 public health problems; 3. identification, assessment or improvement of a specific local environmental justice issue or a specific environmental problem; 4. provision of environmental justice training or related education for teachers, faculty, or related personnel in a specific geographic area or region. Priority will be given to community-based/grassroots organizations, tribes, and organizations whose projects will help improve the environmental quality of affected communities by a) developing an environmental justice project, activity, method, or technique that has wide application, b) enhancing the community's skills in addressing environmental justice issues and problems, and c) establishing or expanding environmental and public health information systems for local communities. 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 also are not available for use in lobbying or underwriting legal actions, including the preparation of court testimony and hiring of expert witnesses.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Community-based grassroots organizations, other incorporated nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Tribal Governments are eligible. Individuals may have their organizations, institutions, government or association apply. Organizations must be incorporated to receive funds.
Beneficiary Eligibility
General Public, Community groups, Public nonprofit institutions/organizations, and federally recognized Tribal governments.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-87 for State and local governments, A-21 for educational institutions, and A-122 for nonprofit organizations.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Applications describing the planned program, the means for executing the program, and preliminary budget information must be submitted to the EPA Regional Environmental Justice Offices. 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 a preproposal to their respective Environmental Justice Office postmarked by March 3, 2003.
Award Procedure
Applications must be submitted to the respective Regional Environmental Justice Offices. 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 2003, the postmark must be by March 3, 2003. EPA plans to award grants by August each year.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Appeals are subject to the provisions of 40 CFR Part 31, Subpart F and 40 CFR Part 30.63.
Renewals
EPA shall establish procedures for a careful and detailed review and evaluation of the environmental justice grants to determine whether the quality of the program being operated by the grantee warrants continued support.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The project grant may be requested for 1 year. Activities must be completed within the time frame of the project's budget period.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Recipients of grants are expected to submit final reports for EPA approval prior to receipt of the balance of grant funds.
Audits
Projects are subject to inspection and audit by representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States and EPA or any authorized representative. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit 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
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
Approximately $1,500,000 was available for fiscal years 2001 and 2002. In fiscal year 2003, an estimate of $1,500,000 is available.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $1,500,000; FY 03 est $1,500,000; and FY 04 est $1,500,000. (NOTE: Individual grants awarded under this program are not to exceed $15,000 for non-superfund projects or $20,000 for superfund projects.)
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.
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/oeca/oej/grlink1.html
Examples of Funded Projects
Over 900 Environmental Justice Small Grant Awards have been funded.
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's ability to manage the grant in compliance with EPA grant regulations; (2) the degree to which the applicant groups' members health and economic well-being of the environment are adversely affected by environmental hazardous exposure; (3) the applicant's ability to inform others in the community of the information gathered; (4) broad representation of affected groups and individuals in the community; (5) whether or not the applicant group is incorporated. In general, the applicant must demonstrate that it is aware of the time commitment, resources, and dedication needed to successfully manage a grant.
