State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement Program (66.312)

Program

66.312 State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement Program

Federal Agency

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance

Authorization

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20(a); Clean Water Act, Section 104(b)(3); Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442(b)(3); Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10(a); Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001(a); Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, Section 203; Clean Air Act, Section 103(b)(3).

Program Number

66.312

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide funding to State governments to support their efforts to understand, promote and integrate approaches and activities that result in meaningful and measurable environmental and/or public health improvements in communities disproportionately exposed to environmental harms and risks. The goals of this program include, but are not limited to, the following: Achieve significant measurable environmental and/or public health results; Build broad, robust, results-oriented partnerships, particularly with community organizations within the affected area(s); Demonstrate a connection to EPA Regional EJ Action Plans and the State's participation in the design and implementation of EPA EJ Action Plan activities; and Implement a strategy to integrate EJ considerations pertinent to the project within the programs, policies, and activities of the appropriate State agency or agencies. To provide funding to State governments to support their efforts to understand, promote and integrate approaches and activities that result in meaningful and measurable environmental and/or public health improvements in communities disproportionately exposed to environmental harms and risks. To support of activities which are robust, results oriented, collaborative partnerships, and which can be linked to Regional EJ Action Plan activities. By linking to the Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) strategic plans and goals, the Agency's EJ Action Plans are using various activities to address goals which will lead to measurable environmental and public health outcomes.

Types of Assistance

Cooperative Agreements

Uses and Use Restrictions

Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: http://geodata.epa.gov. The SEJCA Program seeks projects fostering activities such as the following: Public awareness programs addressing child lead poisoning and asthma in impacted minority or low-income communities. This type of initiative could entail research activities about effective ways of outreaching and educating the public about causes and prevention of (lead poisoning and asthma); follow-up for further lead testing and effectiveness determinations of preventive efforts; Performance of community assessments and risk reduction projects to develop tools that could be used quickly for assessing air quality problems in a community; Projects to address multiple health threats posed by chemical and biological related industries/organizations located close to communities living in state public housing projects; Creation of communication networks and partnerships for sharing information and/or conducting focus groups studies on EJ related issues, between advocacy groups, local communities and state environmental agencies; Development of a response plan for targeted area; Establishment of collaborative and coordinated efforts, process or procedures between state agencies and ongoing projects at local levels to maximize use of local resources and reduce duplication of efforts.

The recipient cannot use these funds for the following activities under this program: litigation against the Federal government or any other government entity; construction; lobbying; matching funds for other Federal grants; travel for Federal employees; and human health studies (taking blood or other information from humans).

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State agencies, U.S. territories and commonwealths, the District of Columbia, and multi-jurisdictional State organizations.

For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA description, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State agencies, U.S. territories and commonwealths, the District of Columbia and multi-jurisdictional State organizations.

The following entities are INELIGIBLE: private colleges and universities; City, township, county government and their entities; Federally recognized Native America Tribal governments; State designate Native American Tribal governments.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments and OMB Circular No. A-102 for Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. EPA may ask applicants or principle investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this program description, EPA will generally specify the nature of the pre-application/pre-proposal assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the competitive announcement. For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog.

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. Environmental impact information is not required 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.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.

Award Procedure

For competitive awards, EPA will review and evaluate applications, proposals, and/or submissions in accordance with the terms, conditions, and criteria stated in the competitive announcement. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

About 150 days.

Appeals

Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.

Renewals

None. A standard grant application should be prepared and submitted as a new grant, which will be reviewed in the same manner as the original application and will compete for available funds. Generally, EPA incrementally funds grants and cooperative agreements for training, research, surveys, studies, and investigations. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to EPA's priorities, and availability of funds.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

All cooperative agreements will be awarded for a 3-year project period. Activities must be completed within the project timeframe, and all cooperative agreements will be fully funded at the time of award. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Oher.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements. Agreements may require interim and final program reports and financial, equipment, and invention reports. Reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations Part 30 and Part 31. No cash reports are required. Agreements may require interim and final progress reports. No expenditure reports are required. Performance monitoring is required under this program.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. 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 $500,000 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 $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular No. A-133. 40 CFR Part 31 - Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments, 40 CFR Part 35 - State and Local Assistance.

Records

Recipients must keep financial records, including all documents supporting entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes in grants available to personnel authorized to examine EPA recipients' grants and cooperative agreements records. Recipients must maintain all records until 3 years from the date of submission of final expenditure reports. If questions, such as those raised as a result of audits remain following the 3-year period, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved.

Program Accomplishments

Not Applicable.

Financial Information

Account Identification

68-0108-0-1-304.

Obligations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $800,000; FY 10 est $0

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

All individual awards are $160,000 each.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

EPA Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to and Local Governments (40 CFR Part 35 Subpart A), October 12, 1982.

Related Programs

66.309 Surveys, Studies, Investigations and Special Purpose Activities Relating to Environmental Justice; 66.604 Environmental Justice Small Grant Program

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Region 3 - Reggie Harris, 215.814.2944, harris.reggie@epa.gov;

Region 4 - Sheryl Good, 404.562.9559, good.sheryl@epa.gov;

Region 5 - Margaret Millard, 312.353.1440, millard.margaret@epa.gov

Region 9 - Karen Henry, 415.972.3844, henry.karen@epa.gov

Region 10 - Running Grass, 206.553.2899 , grass.running@epa.gov.

Headquarters Office

Sheila Lewis USEPA
Office of Environmental Justice
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Mail Code 2201A
, Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: lewis.sheila@epa.gov Phone: (202)564-0152

Web Site Address

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-cps-grants.html

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.