Regional Applied Research Efforts (RARE)
Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2008: FY 2008 Priorities include conducting high priority air pollutants research, ecological risk assessment, water quality, watersheds and drinking water research, research to improve human health (including children's) risk assessment, pollution prevention and new technologies/Economic and Social Science research.
Support surveys, studies and investigations and special purpose assistance actions to determine the environmental effects of air quality, drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances, and pesticides; and identify, develop, and demonstrate and effective pollution control techniques will all be funded under this category.
Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2009: FY 2009 Priorities include conducting high priority air pollutants research, ecological risk assessment, water quality, watersheds and drinking water research, research to improve human health (including children's) risk assessment, pollution prevention and new technologies/Economic and Social Science research.
Support surveys, studies and investigations and special purpose assistance actions to determine the environmental effects of air quality, drinking water, water quality, hazardous waste, toxic substances, and pesticides; and identify, develop, and demonstrate and effective pollution control techniques will all be funded under this category.
Examples of Funded Projects
(1) This project will consist in evaluating commercially available, rapid, economical immunoassays for detection of PCBs in caulking and ventilation system dust.
A quantitative PCB immunoassay developed by ORD's Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division will also be evaluated.
Assays performing favorably would be further tested in buildings testing positive for PCBs in caulk to assess whether ventilation dust can be correlated with air sampling methodologies.
(2) This project will include conducting a side-by-side comparison between an integrated network approach and the conventional horizontal Flow Gravel Pre-filtration/Slow Sand Filtration approach and examine behavior and costs associated with such water filtration technologies in natural watershed conditions.
The project could contribute to finding a solution to the problem of filtration for small rural communities who receive water from surface sources in a tropical climate.
The goal would be to reduce their risks for waterborne diseases and help them comply with the Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR).
(3) This project is intended to help MS4s develop, select and implement a storm water management plan that effectively addresses TMDL requirements and achieves water quality improvement.
The project relies upon existing watershed improvement initiatives and will simply augment what is already being accomplished at the project site in order to better enable EPA to demonstrate environmental results.
Due to the great length of time anticipated to achieve TMDL WLAs and water quality standards, interim measures or indices may be used in order to detect improvement in the first two years of the project.
This project will ultimately incorporate outreach to MS4s and States to educate them about methods and techniques that can be employed to reach TMDL goals and water quality standards.
(4) The use of infrared technology for the discovery of hydrocarbon leaks along pipeline routes has been used for many years.
EPA has partnered with LDEQ to test this proven technology to discern if it can determine the amount of leaking organic vapors from the barges and railcars traversing along the Mississippi River industrial corridor.
With the use of the HAWK surveying instrumentation from a helicopter flying low over the pipelines, barges and railcars, and tying that information into LDEQ's existing GIS databases, we hope to be able to immediately identify the leakers and have them repaired.
This information will also be invaluable in determining if the existing regulations are sufficient to protect the environment and the public form unauthorized releases of hazardous chemicals.
(5) This project will focus on (a) reviewing available databases and literature to compare species assemblages and invasion histories across Pacific estuaries relative to shipping patterns; (b) determining patterns of genetic diversity across invasive populations of Smooth Cordgrass and European Green Crab sampled from California, Oregon, and/or Washington to determine whether populations originated from San Francisco Bay; and (c) developing molecular genetic screening tools to determine whether European Green Crabs and Chinese mitten crabs are being carried in ballast originating from San Francisco Bay.
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
Eight grants/cooperative agreements were made in FY 2007. An estimated six grant/cooperative agreements will be made in FY 2008. An estimated eight grant/cooperative agreements will be made in FY 2009. Contact the Regional Science Liaison of the specific region for the results of the research.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds awarded via grants/cooperative agreements are available for allowable direct cost expenditures incident to the performance of research plus allocable portions of allowable indirect costs of the institutions, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations.
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.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
These programs are available to each State, territory and possession, and Tribal nation of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, for public and private State universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, State and local government departments, other public or private nonprofit institutions, and in some cases, individuals who have demonstrated unusually high scientific ability.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Public nonprofit institutions/organizations and private nonprofit institutions/organizations; state and local governments; Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; U.S. territories or possessions; Scientists/Researchers, Hospitals, and Individuals.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
For additional information, contact the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts" or see Appendix IV of the Catalog.When, applicable, an environmental impact assessment is made by the Office of Research and Development as required by the National Environmental Protection Act.
The standard application forms as furnished by the EPA 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 Procedures
Funds may be available to support activities including but not limited to experiments, surveys, studies, investigations, public education programs, and monitoring where authorized by specific statutes, in both science and engineering disciplines. Please check the Federal Register or the EPA/ORD website http://www.epa.gov/ord/htm/grantopportunity.htm for an updated listing of these programs. Completed applications must be submitted to the appropriate laboratory, center or office within ORD specified in the announcement. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA.
Award Procedures
The official notification of an award will be made by the Agency's Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division.Customarily, applicants are notified about award decisions within six months of the solicitation deadline. After being recommended for award , applicants will be required to submit additional certifications and an electronic version of the revised project abstract, and may be requested to provide responses to comments or suggestions offered by the peer reviewers, a revised budget, past performance documentation, and/or make appropriate revisions. EPA Project Officers will contact Principal Investigators to obtain these materials. The official notification of an award will be made by the Agency's Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division. Before or after award, certain applicants will be expected to provide additional quality assurance documentation.
Deadlines
Contact the appropriate laboratory, center or office within ORD for application deadlines.
Authorization
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Section 102(2)(F); Clean Air Act, Sections 103 and 104, as amended, Public Law 95-95, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.; Clean Water Act, Section 104, 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. 6981 et seq.; Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442, as amended, Public Law 93-523; Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Sections 20 and 23, as amended, Public Law 92-516, 7 U.S.C. 136r and 136 u; Public Laws 94-140 and 95-396, 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.; Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10, as amended, Public Law 94-469, 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), Section 311, Public Law 95-510, as amended, Public Law 99-499; Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act, Section 203.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Approximately 180 days.
Appeals
Disputes will be resolved under 40 CFR 30.63 or 40 CFR 31.70, as applicable.
Renewals
Renewals and extensions are available under the discretion of the appropriate Regional Science Liaison (RSL) to ORD.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are normally funded on a 12-month basis (annual). Total approved project period my not exceed 5 years.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements.
Agreements may require quarterly, interim, and final progress reports, and financial, equipment, and invention reports.
Reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations, 40 CFR Parts 30 and 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
Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate charges 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.
Financial Information
Account Identification
68-0107-0-1-304.
Obigations
FY 07 $823,265; FY 08 est. $511,000; and FY 09 est. $600,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
New grants/cooperative agreements range from $50,000 to $200,000 and average. $125,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
General Grant Regulations and Procedures, Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31). "EPA Assistance Administration Manual," available from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 on a subscription basis and "EPA and the Academic Community, Solicitation for Grant Proposals."
Information 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 administrative questions on grant applications and procedures, contact Mark J. Thomas, at the following address: Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-4763, Fax: (202)565-2903. E-mail: Thomas.Mark@epa.gov.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
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