Training and Fellowships for the Environmental Protection Agency

 

Assistance agreements are awarded (1) to support students through traineeships for occupational and professional training; and (2) to develop career-oriented personnel qualified to work in occupations involving environmental protection and pollution abatement and control. Fellowships are awarded (1) to enhance the capability of State or local agencies responsible for environmental pollution control or other agencies with similar pollution control responsibilities; (2) provide educational renewal opportunities for their career oriented personnel to achieve additional knowledge through academic professional training; and (3) to bring new people into the environmental control field. Funding Priority: The Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response has a priority to provide training opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds to perform work in hazardous waste material programs. Funding priorities for FY 03 include the following: (1.) The HACU National Internship Program provides an experiential education opportunity for students that will enhance their academic studies and allow participants to gain work experience in the federal sector that strengthens their academic experience or furthers an expressed area of interest. This work experience may be useful in stimulating an interest in working for the federal sector and could benefit the federal government in identifying a diverse pool of potential employees. (2.) Fellowship grants are provided to eligible undergraduate and graduate students to perform research projects in the following categories: 1) environmental policy, regulation and law; 2) environmental management and administration; 3) environmental science; 4) public relations and communications; and 5) computer programming and development. (3.) Grants that will provide a professional asbestos/lead-based paint removal certification program. The training will provide potential disadvantaged business owners with the training necessary to do asbestos/lead-based paint removal.

Deleted 06/27/2005 (Each program office that provides funding for research or training will develop their own CFDA descriptions for these activities or incorporate them in their existing descriptions.) 66.607 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Training; Project Grants. There were 424 training and fellowship grants awarded in fiscal year 2002 to institutions of higher learning and individuals. The total amount was $34,266,129. Clean Air Act, Section 103, as amended 42 U.S.C. 7403; Clean Water Act, Section 104(g), 109, and 111, as amended 33 U.S.C. 1254(b) (5), 1259, and 1261; Clean Air Act, Section 103(b)(5), as amended 42 U.S.C. 7403(b)(5); Clean Air Act, Section 104(b)(5) and (g)(3)(B), as amended 33 U.S.C. 1254(b)(5) and (g)(3)(B); Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 7007 and 8001, as amended 42 U.S.C. 6977 and 6981; Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001, as amended 42 U.S.C. 6981; Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442, as amended 42 U.S.C. 300j-1; Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 1442(d)(2), as amended 42 U.S.C. 300j-1(d)(2); Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, Section 311(a) and (b)(9) (Public Law 96-510); CERCLA Section 9660a. Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended, Public Law 99-499, 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.; Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 308; Ocean Dumping Act. Assistance under this program is generally available to States, territories, Indian Tribes, and possessions of the U.S., including the District of Columbia, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other public or private nonprofit institutions, individuals, and in some instances, profit makers, which submit applications proposing training or studies with relevance to EPA's mission. State and local governments, U.S. territories and possessions, Indian Tribes, universities and colleges, hospital, laboratories, other public and private nonprofit institutions and individuals. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular Nos. A-21, A-87, and A-122. When making competitive awards, EPA will specify the nature of the pre-application assistance, if any, that will be available to applicants in the Requests for Initial Proposals or Requests for Applications. This program is excluded from coverage under Executive Order 12372. Applicants must submit their requests for training assistance on EPA Standard Form 424 and for fellowship assistance on EPA Standard Form 5770-2. EPA requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424 (training) or 5770-2 (fellowship). Application kits should be requested from and submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Grants Administration Division, Mail Code 3903R, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460 or the appropriate EPA Regional Office identified in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Detailed information and assistance, including an application kit, required forms, and a check list, may also be found at http://www.epa.gov/ogd/AppKit/. For competitive awards, Requests for Initial Proposals or Requests for Applications will specify application procedures. For non-competitive awards, EPA will conduct an administrative evaluation to determine the adequacy of the application in relation to grant regulations and technical and program evaluation to determine the merit and relevance of the project to Agency programs, and available sources to fund requests. The Agency will then advise the applicant if funding is being considered. A final work plan will then be negotiated with the applicant. For competitive awards, EPA will review applications or proposals in accordance with the criteria specified in the Request for Applications or Request for Initial Proposals. Competitions will be conducted under EPA Order No. 5700.5, Policy for Competition in Assistance Agreements (09/12/02). For competitive awards, deadlines will be specified in Request for Applications or Request for Initial Proposals. Approximately 180 days. As described in 40 CFR, and Part 30.63 and Part 31, Subpart F. 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 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. EPA selects proposed training and fellowships for funding based on factors such as relevancy to EPA's mission and availability of funds. If EPA issues a solicitation for applications for a particular project or group of projects, the solicitation will identify specific criteria. The funds are to provide resources to allow for training and fellowships related to environmental issues. No matching funds are required. EPA includes reporting requirements for grants in the terms and conditions of the agreements. Agreements may require annual, quarterly, or interim and final progress reports, final results, expenditure/financial, equipment, and invention reports. Reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations Part 30 and Part 31. Grants are subject to inspections and audit by representatives of the Comptroller General of the U.S. and any authorized USEPA representative. 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. The Circular requires nonfederal entities that expend more than $300,000 in Federal award dollars, to have an audit conducted in accordance with the Circular's provisions. With the revised Circular, the previous OMB Circular No. A-128 for single audits of State and local governments was rescinded and the single audit requirements for these entities were incorporated among the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133. 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. As required by EPA statute, regulation, or program guidance, or negotiated and agreed to between the applicant and the program office. No matching is required. EPA normally funds grants on a 12-month incremental basis. EPA encourages potential applicants to communicate with the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog, and the Headquarters program contacts listed below. For information on grant applications and procedures, contact Environmental Protection Agency, Grants Administration Division, Mail Code 3903R, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. For program information contact: Office of Air and Radiation - Katherine Moore, (202) 564-1514; Office of Water - Tim Fontaine, (202) 564-0318; Office of Research and Development - Mark Thomas, (202) 564-4763 or Alice Sabatini, (202) 564-1023; Office of the Administrator - Shirley Leonard, (202) 564-1347; Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response - Julianne Edmondson, (202) 260- 0251; Office of Environmental Justice - Linda Smith, (202) 564-2602. Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance - Joseph Hall, (202) 564-2271; Office of International Affairs - Iris Zeigler, (202) 564-6614; Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances - Elaine Lyon-Johnson, (202) 564-0547 or Janet Remmers, (202) 564-0548. http://www.epa.gov 68-0108-0-1-304. FY 02 $34,266,129; FY 03 est $10,000,000; and FY 04 est not available. The minimum and maximum Headquarters awards for fiscal year 2002 are $106 and $4,550,000 respectively. The average Headquarters award for fiscal year 2002 is $77,792. The minimum and maximum Regional awards for fiscal year 2002 are $22,000 and $972,9000 respectively. The average Regional award for fiscal year 2002 is $169,367. 40 CFR Part 31 and Part 30, General Regulation for Assistance Programs; 40 CFR Parts 45 and 46; EPA Annual Program Guidance provided to State and local agencies. Training and fellowships grants have been awarded at colleges and universities throughout the U.S.