Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Training Demonstrations and Educational Outreach Related to Environmental Information and the Release of Toxic Chemicals

 

To provide funding in support of surveys, studies, investigations, training/demonstrations, educational outreach and special purpose assistance as they relate to environmental information and the release of toxic chemicals. The purpose is to educate the public on how to obtain access to and effectively use environmental information, including information about toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities. Through this grant program, EPA intends to enhance the public's understanding of environmental data, in general, and the potential risks and hazards of releases of toxic chemicals to communities as they relate to facilities covered under the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Program; support efforts to assist state, tribal and local governments improve management of environmental information; identify priorities and opportunities for the public and state, tribal and local governments to work with industry to reduce toxic chemical disposal or other releases and potential risks associated with them; and establish reduction targets and measure progress toward reduction goals.

Other program objectives are to access TRI and other toxic chemical information to other organizations so they can help facilitate and manage activities that will further promote analysis, understanding, and use of TRI and other toxic chemical data to prevent pollution, improve environmental performance, and reduce the hazards/risks associated with toxic chemical releases within communities. Also through this grant program, EPA intends to enhance public understanding of environmental information generally and the potential risks and hazards of releases of toxic chemicals to their communities; support efforts to assist interested stakeholders (e.g., members of the public, industry, community organizations, academic institutions, state, tribal and local officials, non-governmental organizations, etc.), to improve the management, access, understanding and use of TRI and other toxic chemical information; and to utilize TRI and related information to prioritize community action and develop opportunities for interested stakeholders to work with industry to achieve beneficial outcomes such as improved data quality, environmental compliance, and reduced toxic chemical disposal or other releases and associated potential risks.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2014: Topics and activities include, but are not limited to the following:

Expansion of TRI stakeholder education and outreach; and development of a summary of states TRI programs' status reports. Use of various avenues to deliver TRI related training to interested stakeholders such as online seminars, and a national training conference. Engagement with new communities and organizations that could benefit from increased awareness, understanding and use of TRI. Promotion of access and use of TRI and other related data among grass-roots community organizations such as producing analyses or training community leaders.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2015: Topics and activities include, but are not limited to the following:
- Expansion of TRI stakeholder education and outreach;
- Use of various avenues to deliver TRI related training to interested stakeholders such as online seminars, and a regional training workshop;
- Engagement with new communities and organizations that could benefit from increased awareness, understanding and use of TRI;
- Promotion of access and use of TRI and other related data among grass roots community organizations such as producing analyses or training community leaders;
- Exploration and development of a TRI-focused mobile application; and
- Planning activities for a fall 2016 National Training Conference.

Funding Priority - Fiscal Year 2016: - Expansion of TRI stakeholder education and outreach;
- Use of various avenues to deliver TRI related training to interested stakeholders such as online seminars;
- Engagement with new communities and organizations that could benefit from increased awareness, understanding and use of TRI;
- Promotion of access and use of TRI and other related data among grass roots community organizations such as producing analyses or training community leaders; and
- Planning activities for a fall 2016 National Training Conference.

Deleted 04/02/2020 (Archived.) 66.612 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Office: Office of Environmental Information Cooperative Agreements Fiscal Year 2014: Populated, maintained, and monitored the collaborative website (www.chemicalright2know.org), which allowed various stakeholders to access information about the TRI program, post discussion topics, position papers, and original research and analyses on an array of TRI and other related topics. Researched and interviewed state TRI coordinators to develop a report summarizing the status of state TRI programs. Fiscal Year 2015: Dillard University had a successful workshop in Houston. Several speakers, including two from EPA, provided the audience of over 100 people with information regarding TRI. Positive feedback was provided. Four webinars were conducted in each quarter of FY 2015, and the presentations are posted on the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. Meetings were held to assist Dillard in the development of a TRI app. Fiscal Year 2016: No Current Data Available Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, Section 20; Clean Water Act, Section 104; Clean Air Act, Section 103; Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10; Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442; Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001. Assistance under this program is generally available to states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories (for example, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), federally recognized Indian tribes, intertribal consortia of federally recognized tribes, public and private colleges and universities, and other public or private nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible for financial assistance. 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. State, territory, city, town, county, and regional governments; federally recognized Indian tribes and intertribal consortia of federally recognized tribes; public institutions and industries subject to EPA regulatory reporting requirements; and the public. Applicants must demonstrate that they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. EPA will ask applicants or principle investigators to provide curricula vitae and relevant publications. EPA may ask for documentation of nonprofit status. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program. EPA awards grants and cooperative agreements supporting surveys, studies and investigations, demonstrations, educational outreach and special purpose projects that consider the relevance to EPA's mission and the likelihood of the success of proposed projects. 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. Environmental impact information is not required 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. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. 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. Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Approximately 180 days. 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 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable. None. Generally, EPA incrementally funds grants and cooperative agreements for 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, and the Agency policy on the competitive grant process. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement. EPA selects proposed Surveys, Studies, and Investigations projects for funding based on factors such as relevancy to EPA's mission, technical merit, and the likelihood of success. If EPA issues a solicitation for applications for a particular project or group of projects, the solicitation will identify specific criteria. Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved scopes of work plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Funding awarded for research does not include research within the purview of EPA's Office of Research and Development. Costs will be determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200 Subpart E



Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to adopt and enforce policies that ban text messaging while driving company-owned or -rented vehicles or government-owned vehicles, or while driving privately-owned vehicles when on official government business or when performing any work for or on behalf of the government. Grant recipients and sub-recipients are encouraged to conduct initiatives of the type described in section 3(a) of the Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving Executive Order that was signed on October 1, 2009. No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. 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, 2 CFR Parts 200 and 1500.

Quarterly progress reports and a detailed final report are required. Quarterly progress reports summarize technical progress, planned activities for next quarter and summary of expenditures. A summary of expenditures should be included in the quarterly progress reports. Annual performance monitoring is required in July of each year of the grant. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. 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. The record retention requirements of 2 CFR Parts 200 and 1500 are applicable depending upon the identity of the recipient. 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. All records must be maintained until expiration of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. 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. This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements. EPA awarded one (five year) cooperative agreement in FY 13. Incremental funding is contingent upon satisfactory progress as certified by the EPA Project Officer, the availability of funds, and EPA priorities.

FY 13 - $275,000

FY 14 - $175,000

FY 15 - $175,000

FY 16 - $200,000 (estimated)

FY 17 - $175,000 (estimated). EPA normally funds grants and cooperative agreements on a 12-month basis. However, EPA can negotiate the project period with each applicant based on project requirements. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: The Agency is incrementally funding this grant on an annual basis for an expected five (5) years. See Regional Agency Offices. EPA encourages potential applicants to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in http://www.epa.gov/tri/contacts_regional.htm or in Appendix IV of the Catalog, and the Headquarters program contacts listed below.

EPA has communicated with Cynthia Peurifoy, Region 4 Environmental Justice Coordinator to ask assistance in engaging a speaker, Representative Harold Mitchel. Region 4 was also made aware of this grant. Margaret Conomos EPA Headquarters, EPA West, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W. Mail Code: 2842T , Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: Conomos.Margaret@epa.gov Phone: 202-566-0671 http://www.epa.gov/oei 68-0108-0-1-304. (Cooperative Agreements) FY 14 $175,000; FY 15 est $175,000; and FY 16 est $200,000 - FY13 $275,000; FY14 $175,000; FY15 $175,000, FY 16 $200,000 (estimated); FY 17 $175,000 (estimated). Estimated $175,000 to $225,000 with an average of $200,000 annually. Surveys, studies, and investigations grants and cooperative agreements are subject to EPA's General Grant Regulations 2 CFR Parts 200 and 1500

Costs will be determined on accordance with 2 CFR 200 Subpart E

Research and demonstration projects are subject to 40 CFR Part 40. Training grants are subject to 40 CFR Part 45.
Fiscal Year 2014: 2011 funding was used to support projects in FY 2014, such as:

- Population, maintenance and monitoring of the collaborative website (www.chemicalright2know.org); and

- Researching and interviewing state TRI coordinators to develop a report summarizing the status of state TRI programs. Fiscal Year 2015: Workshop in Houston, four webinars, development of TRI App, and initial planning discussions for fall 2016 TRI National Training Conference. Fiscal Year 2016: No Current Data Available