Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program
Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2008: None.
- Environmental Education and Training Program
- Environmental Education Grants
- Environmental Justice Small Grant Program
- Environmental Justice Training and Fellowship Assistance
- Environmental Justice Research Assistance
- Surveys, Studies, Investigations and Special Purpose Activities Relating to Environmental Justice
Examples of Funded Projects
(1) Working with partners to identify and characterize the environmental and public health issues associated with straight pipe sewage and acid mine drainage, educating community residents about the environmental and health effects from these impacts, and working to develop and implement the strategies necessary to successfully address these issues.
(2) Engaging communities in the cleanup and improvement of vacant lots into green spaces and sustain their upkeep through a recycling program to help reduce pollutants that contribute to communities' high asthma rates.
This collaboration is expected to improve Philadelphia's recycling rate and air quality.
(3) Developing a collaborative process that encourages measures for the installation of safe water and sewer services, the clean up of toxic substance sites, and the improvement of air quality in the area's low-income communities and other comparable communities that do not have access to basic amenities.
Grassroots training will assist residents in working collaboratively with local, State, and federal government officials.
(4) Working with partners to incorporate environmental and health considerations, and to involve disadvantaged communities into the decision-making process of the city's Master Plan for housing redevelopment and revitalization.
The project also encourages use of natural, non-toxic cleaning products and practices to reduce exposure to lead paint and decrease the incidence of asthma.
(5) Creating an Environmental Council with partners to conduct air sampling tests in schools, apartments, and community locations to determine the extent of indoor and outdoor air pollution in the community.
The Council will help the community educate itself about asthma, asthma triggers and allergens, and what can be done to minimize or eliminate indoor air asthma triggers.
- Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement
- Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program
- Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement
- Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program
- ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING (EJCPS) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAM
The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
Program Accomplishments
42 applications were received and 10 awards were granted in fiscal year 2007. No grants were made in fiscal year 2008.
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 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
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.
An eligible applicant MUST BE: (1) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization as designated by the Internal Revenue Service OR a nonprofit organization, recognized by the State, territory, commonwealth, or tribe in which it is located, which addresses local environmental and public health issues; AND (2) located within the same State, territory, commonwealth, or tribe that the proposed project will be located.
The following entities are INELIGIBLE: colleges and universities; hospitals; State and local governments and federally-recognized Indian tribal governments; quasi-governmental entities (e.g., water districts, utilities)*; national-, multi-state-, or state-wide- organizations with chapters; and nonprofit organizations that engage in lobbying activities as defined in Section 3 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
In addition, an eligible applicant must be able to demonstrate that it has worked directly with, or provided services to, the affected community.
An "affected community," for the purposes of this assistance agreement program, is a community that is disproportionately impacted by environmental harms and risks and has a local environmental and/or public health issue that is identified in the proposal.
*Generally, a quasi-governmental entity is one that: (1) has a close association with the government agency, but is not considered a part of the government agency; (2) was created by the government agency but is exempt from certain legal and administrative requirements imposed on government agencies; or (3) was not created by the government agency but performs a public purpose and is significantly supported financially by the government agency.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Nonprofit Community Groups as described in "Applicant Eligibility," above.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit institutions. 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.
Aplication 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.
Application Procedures
Applicants may use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.
Award Procedures
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
For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in Request for Applications or Request for Initial Proposals.
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); Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, Section 203.
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
Not applicable.
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.
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 progress reports and financial, equipment, and invention reports.
Reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations Part 30 and Part 31.
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 $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.
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.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0108-0-1-304.
Obigations
FY0 7 $1,000,000; FY 08 $0; and FY 09 $0.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
All individual awards are $100,000 each.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
40 CFR Part 30.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not Applicable.
Headquarters Office
Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Management Division, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Mail Code 3903R, Washington, DC 20460. For program information contact: Office of Environmental Justice, Sheila Lewis, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Mail Code 2201A, Washington DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-0152. Fax: (202) 501-1107. E-mail: lewis.sheila@epa.gov.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement.
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