During fiscal year 2007, 4 grant applications were received and 2 awards were made to a State and to a Tribe for chemical accident prevention and preparedness. The State will focus on compliance assistance site visits to RMP facilities and maintain tracking database. The tribe will preform an inventory of facilities and hazardous chemicals, identify and document location of materials and facilities, and design and implement outreach programs to focus on safe storage and use of chemicals. For FY 2008, it is anticipated that no more than 2 grants will be awarded for conducting and promoting activities associated with the Clean Air Act program in the area of Chemical Accident Prevention, Preparedness and Response. Activities may include RMP facility inspections, data analysis community safety outreach, and hazardous materials exercises. For FY 2008, we anticipate 3 to 4 applications. These grants are in support of Goal 4: Healthy Communities and Ecosystems, and the outcomes for these projects are defined and include Chemical Organism and Pesticide Risk reduction at facilities. For FY 2009, again we estimate 2 awards and 3 - 4 applications.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Innovative Technical Assistance Grants are offered to improve the ability of States, Tribes and local communities to protect public health and safety and involve the development of technical assistance or similar materials that could be used directly or adapted by other States/Tribes or Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs).

Projects which address implementing the Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act Section 112(r) are especially of interest.

The grant money may not supplant State or Tribal funds already being spent.

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.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States, Local agencies District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S.

Virgin Island, Northern Mariana Islands, and Federally Recognized Indian Tribes.

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

States, Tribes, Local Emergency Planning Committees, and local emergency responders.

Credentials/Documentation

OMB Circular No. A-87 is required for this program.

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.

Potential applicants should contact the CEPP Regional contact listed below to determine if grants are available in a specific Region.

The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No.

A-102 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

States, Local agencies, and Indian Tribes must submit the original completed application package and one copy to the appropriate EPA Regional Office. The Regional office will review the application package to ensure completeness. States must comply with all applicable requirements. Applicants may be able to 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. Competitions will be conducted in accordance with EPA policies/regulations for competing assistance agreements. Grant applications will undergo the following review process: EPA Regional Office staff will evaluate each application and, based on the criteria established will select proposal(s) for funding. EPA Regional offices will be awarding the grants. The review process will concentrate on choosing the best project concepts. Once the grant is awarded to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), Tribal Emergency Response Commission (TERC), directly to the local agencies such as the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), or other State agency with SERC coordination as appropriate, the recipient will be notified by phone or email. EPA will monitor the work in progress and provide project guidance and oversight to the State, Local agencies, and Tribes.

Deadlines

Contact the Regional Office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Clean Air Act Section 103 (b)(3) and Section 112 (l)(4); Toxic Substances Control Act, Sections 10(a), and 28(a), Public Law 94-469, 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 180 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.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. There is a 25 percent match requirement for assistance agreements awarded to States under the Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 28.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants will normally be funded on a 12 to 24 month basis. Total approved project period should not exceed 2 years for a particular project. A call for letters of intent and applications will be advertised annually via the Regions notifying States, Local agencies, and Tribes. Recipients will be notified by phone call or email that their proposal will be funded. The grants may be awarded in a lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Reports will be required on a quarterly basis to describe applicant's progress.

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 reports, including all documents to support entries on the accounting records and to substantiate charges to each grant or cooperative agreement must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grant recipient accounts. All records must be maintained for 3 years from the date of the submission of the annual financial status 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

EPM 68-0108-0-1-304.

Obigations

FY 07 $100,000; FY 08 est. $90,000; and FY 09 est. $90,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$25,000 to $75,000; an average of approximately $50,000 for a one year award.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to States and Local Government (40 CFR Part 31).

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Any inquiries, contact the CEPP Coordinators as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office

Sherry Fielding, Grant Program Manager, OSWER/OEM/POCD (5104A), EPA HQ, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-6174, Fax: (202) 564-8211 fielding.sherry@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.