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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

66.500:  Environmental Protection: Consolidated Research

Objectives:  To (1) Support research to determine the environmental effects on air quality, drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances and pesticides; (2) identify, develop and demonstrate necessary pollution control techniques; and (3) support research to explore and develop strategies and mechanisms for those in the economic, social, governmental and environmental systems to use in environmental management. To support the STAR Program (Science To Achieve Results) by funding the highest quality research in the following eight priority areas: (1) safe drinking water; (2) high priority air pollutants; (3) research to improve human health (including children) risk assessment; (4) research to improve ecological risk assessment; (5) emerging issues; (6) water and watersheds; (7) environmental statistics; and (8) pollution prevention and new technologies. Other more specialized scientific areas may be solicited via joint RFAs with other entities. Competitive RFAs for grants in these areas are announced widely through the Federal Register, Internet, university and scientific organizations, among other mechanisms. Applicants must propose relevant research based on excellent science as determined through peer review by experts drawn from the national scientific community. To support STAR's Exploratory Research Grants Program by funding investigator initiated grants in broad areas such as environmental chemistry and physics, social science and environmental engineering; and health and ecological effects of pollution not covered by the RFAs. To support STAR's Graduate Fellowship Program which provides funding for master's and doctoral degree students in environmental sciences and engineering. This program is announced nationally. Applicants proposals are judged by external peer reviewers and fellowships are subsequently awarded on a competitive basis. To support STAR's Environment Research Centers Program which supports competitively selected universities, or consortia of universities that focus on long- term, multi-disciplinary research. Other Research Centers such as the Hazardous Substances Research Centers mandated by CERCLA, and other Congressionally mandated centers are also a part of the National Center for Environmental Research (NCER). Moreover, funds may be available within other segments of the Office of Research and Development to support activities including but not limited to research, demonstration, development, experiments, surveys, studies, investigations, public education programs, monitoring, training and undergraduate fellowships where authorized by specific statutes, in both science and engineering disciplines.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

66.500 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  This program is available to each State, territory and possession and Tribal nation of the U.S., including DC, for public and private State universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, State and local government departments, other public or private nonprofit institutions, and in some case individuals who have demonstrated unusually high scientific ability.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  State and local governments, U.S. territories and possessions, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, and individuals.

Credentials/Documentation:  Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments, OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions, and OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations.

66.500 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Discussion with the Office of Research and Development Laboratories/National Centers is advisable for research cooperative agreement application. Contact points are shown in RFAs. Generally, no preapplication assistance is available for research grant applications. An environmental impact assessment made by the Office of Research and Development is required for this program. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-110 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.

Application Procedure:  Requests for application forms and completed applications must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Grants Administration Division, GAD 3903R, Washington, DC 20460, or as shown in the RFAs, which are accessible through the NCER Internet Web site at "www.epa.gov/ncerqa." This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-110.

Award Procedure:  Each application shall be subjected to administrative evaluation to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to grant regulations and to program evaluation; technical and extramural review determines the merit and relevance to agency programs of the project.

Deadlines:  As stated in the RFA.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  About 180 days.

Appeals:  As described in 40 CFR Part 30.63, and Part 31, Subpart F.

Renewals:  None. Standard grant application should be prepared and submitted which will be reviewed in the same manner as a new application and will compete for available funds.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  A proposal is judged for (A) scientific merit in terms of: (1) quality and originality of the proposed work; (2) the qualifications of the Principal Investigator(s) and other key personnel assigned to the project; (3) the adequacy of the quality assurance narrative; (4) the responsiveness of the proposed research to needs identified in the RFA; (5) the appropriateness of the proposed project period and budget; and (6) the probability that the project will accomplish stated objectives; and for (B) program interest in terms of: (1) the need for the proposed research; and (2) a balanced ORD research portfolio. See the Web page for specific criteria for this year's RFAs.

Examples of Funded Projects:  None. See Web Page for previously funded grants (www.epa.gov/ncerqa).

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  $6,000 to $1,500,000; $260,000. Awards range from $6,000 to $34,000 annually per fellowship and from $150,000 to $950,000 for new grants with new Centers up to $1,500,000.

66.500 RELATED PROGRAMS:

None.

66.500 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Estimated awards for the STAR program during each annual RFA cycle is 125 fellowships and 170 competitive grants. Interim and final summary results of the research will be available on the homepage, www.epa.gov/ncerqa.

66.500 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

Obligations:  (Grants and Cooperative Agreements) FY 99 $93,700,000; FY 00 est $93,000,000; and FY 01 est $107,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  68-0107-0-1-304.

Authorization:  Clean Air Act of 1963, as amended, Public Law 95-95, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.; Clean Water Act, as amended, Public Law 95-217, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.; Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001, as amended; Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, Public Law 94-580, 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.; Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, Public Law 93-523; Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Public Law 92-516, as amended; Public Laws 94-140 and 95-396, 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.; Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, Public Law 94-469, 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, Public Law 95-510, as amended, Public Law 99-499.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  General Grant Regulations and Procedures, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31); Interim Regulations, Research and Demonstration Grants, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 40). "EPA Assistance Administration Manual," available from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 on a subscription basis; "EPA and the Academic Community, Solicitation for Grant Proposals" and the "EPA Research Program Guide" available free from ORD Publications, EPA/NRMRL, Cincinnati, OH 45268.

66.500 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Individuals are encouraged to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office:  For information on grant applications and procedures, contact Environmental Protection Agency, Grants Administration Division, 3903R, Washington, DC 20460. For program information, contact the Director, National Center for Environmental Research, (8701), Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460. Phone: 1-800-490-9194. To obtain information via the Internet for the STAR program, click on "Grants" at "www.epa.gov/ncerqa" for further information about programs and/or RFAs which will be posted as available.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

66.500 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Grants normally funded on a 12-month basis (yearly). Total approved project period may not exceed five years.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Available for allowable direct cost expenditures incident to research performance plus allocable portions of allowable indirect costs of the institutions, in accordance with the established policies of EPA. Projects which include research, but also contain other types of grant assistance, such as training, planning, etc., may be funded through the Environmental Protection Consolidated Grants-Program Support, which is described in 66.600.

66.500 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Annual interims and final progress, expenditure, equipment and invention reports.

Audits:  Grants are subject to inspections and audit by representatives of the Comptroller General of the United States and EPA or any authorized representative. Federal audits will be made in accordance with the policies of OMB Circular No. A-73 to ensure that funds have been applied efficiently, economically, and effectively. Periodic audits should be made as part of the recipient's systems of financial management and internal control to meet terms and conditions of grants and other agreements. 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. Recipients that are State or local governments, institutions of higher education, or non-profit organizations shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in OMB Circular No. A-133 "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Institutions."

Records:  Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes to each grant, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant accounts. All records must be maintained until three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.