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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

66.951:  Environmental Education Grants

Popular Name:  EEG

Objectives:  To support projects to design, demonstrate, or disseminate practices, methods, or techniques related to environmental education and training.

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

66.951 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.

66.951 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 Executive Order 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 $25,000 or less and to the EPA Headquarters for grants greater than $25,000.

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 (1704), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.

Deadlines:  For fiscal year 2001 submittal of the completed preapplication package must be postmarked by November 15. The targeted period for the awarding of grants is in the Summer of 2001.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  About 180 days.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  Grants proposals are evaluated annually on a competitive basis. Therefore, applicants should not plan for renewals.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Bases 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.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Not applicable.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Not applicable.

66.951 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 66.950 Environmental Education and Training Program.

66.951 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

66.951 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $2,400,000; FY 00 est $2,800,000; and FY 01 est $3,000,000. (NOTE: Most grants under Section 6 for this program do not exceed $25,000 and very few are over $100,000. Twenty-five percent of all funds obligated under this section in a fiscal year are for grants of not more than $5,000.)

Budget Account Number:  68-0108-0-1-304.

Authorization:  National Environmental Education Act, Public Law 101-619, Section 6.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  40 CFR Parts 7, 12, 30, 31, 32, 32-(F), 33, 47; and Federal Register (Solicitation Notice, September 22, 1999); Public Law 101-619.

66.951 INFO 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, Mail Code 1704, Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Bldg., 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Phone: (202) 260- 8619.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

66.951 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Federal funds for any project under this section shall not exceed seventy-five percent of the total cost of such project. For the purposes of this section, the nonfederal share of project costs may be provided by in- kind contributions and other noncash support. The project has a 25 percent non-federal match required by statutory formula.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  The Environmental Education program grant may be requested for a 12 month period. However, 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.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Grant funds shall be used to establish an education and training 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; 1. a new or significantly improved environmental education practice, method, or technique; 2. an environmental education practice, method, or technique which may have wide application; 3. 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 4. an environmental education practice, method, or technique which addresses an environmental issue which, in the judgment of the Administrator, is of a high priority. Priorities 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 any building.

66.951 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Recipients of grants are expected to submit an original and a copy of the final report for EPA approval prior to receipt of the balance of grant funds. Recipients of grants greater than $25,000 are expected to report on semi-annual progress, as well as final project completion.

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.

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.