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. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. 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. 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. Application Procedures: OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Forms are available on the EPA web site (http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm). EPA requires final applications to be made on Standard Form 424. Requests for application kits must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, Grants and Interagency Agreements Management Division, 3903R, Washington, DC 20460 or through the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Additional information on the EPA grant package can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_apply.htm. Requests for Initial Proposals or Requests for Applications will specify application procedures. For information on the current or prior solicitations, please see the EPA State Innovation Grants website at http://www.epa.gov/innovation/stategrants. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. Award Procedure: For non-competitive awards, EPA will conduct an administrative evaluation to determine the adequacy of application in relation to grant regulations and to technical and program evaluation to determine the merit and relevance of the project. 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 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: Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. 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: Not Applicable. Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. This program has no matching requirements. This program does not have MOE requirements. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: 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. Most projects have been of a 1-3 year duration. For purposes of this program, EPA limits the project periods to no more than 4 years. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum. Reports: EPA includes reporting requirements for grants and cooperative agreements in the terms and conditions of the agreements. Specific reporting requirements are also identified in the Grant Regulations Part 30 and Part 31. Program reports are required. No cash reports are required. Quarterly progress reports are required. Expenditure reports are required to be submitted as a part of the project budget along with the quarterly progress reports. Performance monitoring is required as specified in the workplan for specific projects, and are included in the progress reports. Audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal 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 Circular No. A-133. 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. Records: The record retention requirements of 40 CFR Part 31 (governmental units) 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. 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. Account Identification: 68-0108-0-1-304. Obligations: (Project Grants) FY 08 $885,000; FY 09 est $565,000; FY 10 est $1,000,000 Range and Average of Financial Assistance: $50,000 to $350,000 per grant. The average for awards is approximately $225,000 for a 1-4 year assistance agreement. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2008: In the FY 2009 competition, the Agency received 26 pre-proposals totaling $6.21M. Two projects have been selected for a total of $0.565M in federal funds. In the FY 2008 competition, 12 pre-proposals were submitted totaling over $3M. Three projects were selected totaling $0.885M in funding. Since the beginning of the State Innovation Grant Program, 38 awards have been made (the 2 selections made in the 2009 competition have awards pending at the date of this announcement). The 40 projects cover the following areas: 20 Environmental Results Program (ERP) projects, 9 Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and other permitting integration approach projects, 2 watershed permitting projects, 1 project for a streamlined and enhanced permitting through application of innovative information technology (IT) Systems, 2 projects for integrated approaches across state or regional boundaries, and 8 Performance Track (PT) projects. Please note that several of these projects incorporate multiple elements (e.g., projects that are both ERP and EMS, or projects that are both ERP and Performance Track)so, this breakdown of projects identifies projects that appear in multiple categories. Ten of the projects from the FY 2002, 2004, and 2005 solicitations are now complete. These state agencies have submitted their final project reports. For additional information, including access to the Program's 2008 progress report executive summary, see: http://www.epa.gov/innovation/stategrants. The results of these assistance agreements will enable the Agency to meet performance measures noted in the Agency Strategic Plan. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: Environmental Policy and State Innovation grants and cooperative agreements are subject to EPA's General Grant Regulations (40 CFR Part 30 and 40 CFR Part 31). State governments costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87. Regional or Local Office: See Regional Agency Offices. 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. Headquarters Office: Pamela Stirling Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,, Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: stirling.pamela@epa.gov Phone: (202) 566-0949 Website Address: http://www.epa.gov/innovation/stategrants RELATED PROGRAMS: 66.034 Surveys, Studies, Research, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Special Purpose Activities Relating to the Clean Air Act; 66.436 Surveys, Studies, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Training Grants and Cooperative Agreements - Section 104(b)(3) of the Clean Water Act; 66.611 Environmental Policy and Innovation Grants; 66.813 Alternative or Innovative Treatment Technology Research, Demonstration, Training, and Hazardous Substance Research Grants EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2008: This is the fourth year for this CFDA entry. Under this announcement and previous announcements under CFDA 66.606, Surveys, Studies, Investigations and Special Purpose Grants and 66.611, Environmental Policy and Innovation Grants, EPA funded projects in 2008 such as a Comprehensive Regional Multi-pollutant Air Quality Management Plan for the St. Louis metropolitan area. The plan integrates all existing State Implementation Plan (SIP) requirements and address a broad range of issues related to climate, growth, transportation, energy efficiency and hazardous air pollutant exposures. Another project supports the use of EMS and ERP to create a Sustainable Energy Management System for wastewater treatment facilities. The EMS focuses on improving energy efficiency; an ERP reduces the oil and grease coming in to the facilities from restaurants and food processing operations with the goal of turning this waste into a renewable fuel source. Another project tests the use of incentives such as early technical assistance and integrated/coordinated permitting to encourage adoption of better development practices. The project integrates storm water and other permits for the construction sector with the goal of development that produces fewer air, water, and ground water impacts and energy and water savings. Projects funded in earlier cycles include the "Implementation of a Voluntary Automotive Body and Automotive Repair Environmental Results Program." This project supported a state undertaking an automotive body and automotive repair Environmental Results Program (ERP) to administer targeted multi-media assistance to auto body and auto repair facilities, to implement a self-certification program, and to measure the compliance results. Another example of a project funded is the "Auto Salvage Environmental Results Program: Improved Compliance and Performance through Innovation." This project supported a state applying the ERP program to the auto salvage sector. The three part program included: (1) facility certification; (2) statistically-based performance measurement; and (3) on-site compliance, pollution prevention, and technical assistance. A third example of a project funded is the "Retail Gasoline Sector Environmental Results Project," which enabled a state to apply the ERP model to the retail gasoline sales sector as well as to other facilities regulated by the state's Underground Storage Tank program. Other examples of funded projects include: (a) the development of a voluntary Community EMS model under their Comprehensive Local Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) to encourage comprehensive environmental planning and continuous improvement; (b) the development of a watershed-based permitting program to address integrated management of water quality in a Basin impacted by coal-bed methane (CBM) extraction; (c) the implementation of an Environmental Leadership Program A Vertical Start-up Model with Multi-State Applicability - designed to expand development of the state environmental leadership program, develop partnerships with other States in the Region and on the State borders to develop membership criteria and support for common business sectors, and work to align previously separate leadership projects such as OSHA's Voluntary Partnership Program, Energy Star, Green Buildings, and Smart Growth; and (d) the encouragement of Superior Environmental Performance Through Management Systems, Recognition, and Rewards. This program establishes a State-based Environmental Leadership Program that will complement (through a MOU/PPA) their participation in the National Performance Track Program. Planned project tasks include: building a "virtual EMS" tutorial through the college/university system; "greening the supply chain" mentoring projects; and implementing Performance Track incentives for applicable member facilities. New projects are testing the use of the Environmental Results Program across several business sectors applied at improving stormwater management, and applying Environmental Management Systems in permitting to improving compliance and environmental performance in the dairy AFO sector. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement. 66.950 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAM (Training Program) FEDERAL AGENCY: Office of the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency National Environmental Education Act, Section 5, Public Law 101-619. To train educational professionals in the development and delivery of USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Funds shall be used to establish an education and training program which shall include, at a minimum: (1) classroom training in environmental education and studies including environmental sciences and theory, educational methods and practices, environmental career or occupational education, and topical environmental issues and problems; (2) demonstrations of the design and conduct of environmental field studies and assessments; (3) development of environmental education programs and curricula, including programs and curricula to meet the needs of diverse ethnic and cultural groups; (4) sponsorship and management of international exchanges of teachers and other educational professionals between the United States, Canada, and Mexico involved in environmental programs and issues; (5) maintenance or support of a library of environmental education materials, information, literature, and technologies, with electronic as well as hard copy accessibility; (6) evaluation and dissemination of environmental education materials, training methods, and related programs; (7) sponsorship of conferences, seminars, and related forums for the advancement and development of environmental education and training curricula and materials, including international conferences, seminars, and forums; (8) supporting effective partnerships, networks, and the use of distant learning technologies; and (9) such other activities as the Administrator determines to be consistent with the policies of the Act. No funds made available for this program shall be used for the acquisition of real property (including buildings) or the construction or substantial modification of any building. 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. Applicant Eligibility: Assistance under this program is available to universities, non-profit organizations, or a consortia of such institutions to deliver environmental education training and support for education professionals. 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: Education (0-8), education (9-12), education (13+), nonprofit institutions. Documentation of nonprofit status may be required. Applicants may be requested to demonstrate they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. Office of Environmental Education may ask applicants or principal investigators to provide curriculum vitae and relevant publications. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87. Preapplication Coordination: A solicitation notice is issued for this program once every five years. The notice identifies the application process. 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. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Application Procedures: This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The next solicitation notice which describes the application procedure for this program will be issued in the Federal Register in 2010. The last solicitation notice was issued March 18, 2005. The solicitation process for this program is conducted every five years. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. Award Procedure: This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 110. 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: Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: The next award will not be made until 2010. 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: 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 the Environmental Education Division's program priorities, and the availability of funds. Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: In accordance with the National Environmental Education Act (Public Law 101-619), federal funds for any project under this section shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of such project. The project has a 25 percent non-federal match required by statutory formula. For the purposes of this section, the non-Federal share of project costs may be provided by cash or by in-kind contributions and other non-cash support. This program does not have MOE requirements. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: The training program consists of an initial one year budget and project period subject to annual supplemental funding agreements for up to five years. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: This program operates on a five year basis. Funds are initially awarded for a one year project period. Subsequent supplemental funding awards on an annual basis for the next four years. Reports: No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. The grantee must submit bi-annual and final progress reports. Expenditure reports are required. Performance monitoring is required. Audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal 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 Circular No. A-133. 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. Records: Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes to each assistance agreement, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA assistance accounts. All records must be maintained until the expiration of 3 years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as the result of an audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved. Account Identification: 68-0108-0-1-304. Obligations: (Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $2,209,000; FY 09 est $2,244,750; FY 10 est $2,200,000 Range and Average of Financial Assistance: This is a 5-year program, one recipient is selected every 5 years. The project is funded on an annual basis and the amount of the annual funding depends on Congressional appropriation. The range and average financial assistance for the full 5-year project period is approximately $8.5 million. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2008: (1) Trained hundreds of thousands of teachers and other education professionals in scientifically-sound and pedagogically-effective environmental education; (2) published a series of national environmental education guidelines for: what constitutes quality EE materials, what K-12 students need to know about the environment to become environmentally literate, what educators need to know to teach effectively about the environment, what constitutes effective non-formal EE programs; and what pre-school children need to learn about the environment; (3) provided leadership and strategic planning training and support to more than 25 states to ensure coordinated and effective statewide EE programs; (4) supported state EE certification efforts in several states; (5) developed four university accredited on-line EE courses that introduce educators to EE, teach educators how to evaluate EE programs, teach natural resource education professionals about strategic planning, and help EE programs reach culturally diverse audiences; and (6) developed and maintained a state-of-the-art Internet site called "EE-Link" to enable educators to access quality information and resources about environmental education. More information on program accomplishments is available at http://www.eetap.org. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: 40 CFR Parts 30, 31, 32, 33, 45, 47; program guidance; Federal Register (Invitation for Pre-proposal, July 2, 1991); Public Law 101-619. Regional or Local Office: See Regional Agency Offices. Contact the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Headquarters Office: Kathleen MacKinnon Environmental Education Division, (1704A) 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: mackinnon.kathleen@epa.gov Phone: (202) 564-0454 Website Address: http://www.epa.gov/enviroed RELATED PROGRAMS: 66.951 Environmental Education Grants EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS: Fiscal Year 2008: Environmental education activities such as training for in-service and pre-service educators; promotion of the national environmental education guidelines; support for state capacity building; the development of a materials review process; support for accreditation efforts at universities; support for state educator certification programs; and support for internet access to information and materials. More information is available at http://www.eetap.org. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS: Priorities for selecting proposals are listed in Section 5 of Public Law 101-619, National Environmental Education Act. The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA description will be described in the competitive announcement. 66.951 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS FEDERAL AGENCY: Office of the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency National Environmental Education Act, Section 6, Public Law 101-619. To support projects to design, demonstrate, or disseminate practices, methods, or techniques related to environmental education and teacher training. As required by Public Law 101-619, this grant program provides financial support for environmental education projects implemented by schools, universities, state and local government environmental and educational agencies, tribal education agencies, and nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organizations. Funding Priority Fiscal Year 2009: All grant projects must address one of the following educational priorities: (1) Capacity Building: Increasing capacity to develop and deliver coordinated environmental education programs across a state or across multiple states. Steps include developing effective leaders and organizations which create strategic plans to implement and link environmental education programs to promote long term programs and to decrease fragmentation of effort and duplication across programs; (2) Education Reform: Utilizing environmental education as a catalyst to advance state or local education reform goals; (3) Community Stewardship: Designing and implementing model projects to educate the public about environmental issues issues in their communities through state and local government and community based organizations or through print, film, broadcast, or other media; (4) Health: Educating teachers, students, community leaders, or the public about human-health threats from environmental pollution, especially as it affects children, and how to minimize human exposure to preserve good health; (5) Teaching Skills: Providing professional development for teachers, faculty, or non-formal educators about environmental issues and content, such as sustainabiltiy, to improve environmental education skills; or (6) Career Development: Educating students in formal or non-formal settings about environmental issues to encourage environmental careers. TYPES OF ASSISTANCE: PROJECT GRANTS USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS: Grant funds shall be used to establish an education program which shall include, at a minimum: (1) design, demonstration, or dissemination of environmental curricula and materials on specific topics for which there are no existing materials; (2) design and demonstration of field methods, practices, and techniques, including review of environmental and ecological conditions and analysis of environmental and pollution problems; (3) projects to understand and evaluate a specific environmental issue or a specific environmental problem; (4) provision of training or related education for teachers, faculty, or related personnel in a specific geographic area or region; and (5) design and demonstration of projects to foster international cooperation in addressing environmental issues and problems involving the United States and Canada or Mexico. Priority will be given to those projects which will develop: (a) a new or significantly improved environmental education practice, method, or technique; (b) an environmental education method which may have wide application; (c) an environmental education method which addresses skills or scientific fields identified as a priority in the report developed by the National Environmental Education Advisory Council; and (d) an environmental education project which addresses an environmental issue which, in the judgment of the Administrator, is of a high priority. More specific priorities are listed above under Objectives and are specified in the annual Solicitation Notice. Restrictions: No funds made available for this program shall be used for technical training of environmental management professionals; for advocacy or lobbying; for acquisition of real property (including buildings); or the construction or substantial modification of any building. 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. Applicant Eligibility: Assistance under this program is generally available to local education agencies, colleges and universities, state education and environmental agencies, nonprofit organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service, and noncommercial educational broadcasting entities as defined and licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. Applicant organizations must be located in the United States or territories and the majority of the educational activities must take place in the United States, Canada, or Mexico. 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: Education (0-8), education (9-12), education (13+), nonprofit institutions. Documentation of nonprofit status may be required. Applicants must The annual solicitation notice for proposals and grant writing tips are available on the Agency's website listed below. 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. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Application Procedures: OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Applicants are accepted on an annual grant cycle and are due at the deadline stated below. Applicants submit an application package in the format required in the annual Solicitation Notice. Applicants submit an application package to their respective EPA Regional Grants Management Offices for grants requesting $50,000 or less in Federal funds; and to the EPA Headquarters for larger grants. Applicants may be able to use http://www.grants.gov to electronically apply for certain grant opportunities under this CFDA. However, where possible it is preferable to submit applications and attachments on paper via mail or delivery services. Award Procedure: Applications for a Federal share of $50,000 or less are to be submitted to and evaluated by the respective EPA Regional Offices. Applications for a larger Federal dollar amount are to be submitted to and evaluated by the Office of Environmental Education, (1704A), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20460. 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. The Agency will then advise the applicant if funding is being considered. A final work plan will then be negotiated with the applicant. All awards are competed through the annual announcement and no proposals are awarded non-competitively. Deadlines: Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: 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: Not Applicable. Formula and Matching Requirements: This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: In accordance with the National Environmental Education Act (Public Law 101-619), federal funds for any project under this section shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of such project. The project has a 25 percent non-federal match required by statutory formula. For the purposes of this section, the non-federal share of project costs may be provided by cash or by in- kind contributions and other non-cash support. This program does not have MOE requirements. Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: The majority of the grants are completed in a one-year project period which is the preferred length of time. However, some flexibility up to two year project periods is possible depending upon the nature and complexity of the project. Activities must be completed within the time frame of the budget period. Concurrent grants to the same organization during the second year are not allowed. Grants may be incrementally or fully funded. This determination is made by the EPA. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: As requested by the grantee periodically. Reports: No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. Recipients of grants are expected to submit progress reports on at least a semi-annual basis. Final reports and two copies of all grants products are due within 90 days of the close of the budget period. Expenditure reports are required. Performance monitoring is required. Audits: In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal 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 Circular No. A-133. 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. Records: Financial records, including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate changes to each assistance agreement, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA assistance accounts. All records must be maintained until the expiration of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as the result of an audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved. Account Identification: 68-0108-0-1-304. Obligations: (Project Grants) FY 08 $3,365,600; FY 09 est $3,400,000; FY 10 est $3,400,000 Range and Average of Financial Assistance: Range $7,000 to $125,000 per grant. Average financial assistance: Regional grants $12,000 to $15,000 per grant and Headquarters $90,000 per grant. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Fiscal Year 2008: Each year, Headquarters awards approximately 10 grants and the ten EPA Regional Offices award 10 to 15 each for a total of about 135 grants nationwide. In a typical annual grant cycle, these Environmental Education Grants educate approximately 6,000 teachers, 20,000 students, and 12,000 members of the general public. In Fiscal Year 2008, the issuance of grants followed the typical grant pattern, awarding 12 grants from a pool of 105 grant applications, and the 10 EPA Regional offices awarded almost 135 grants from a pool of over 850 grant applications. Fiscal Year 2009: For the 2009 grant cycle, it is anticipated that the ratio of applications to awards will follow past patterns and approximately 10 percent of the headquarters applications and 30 percent of the regional office proposals will be funded. This grant program is expected to reach a target audience of about 6,000 teachers, 20,000 students and 12,000 members of the public in the next fiscal year. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE: 40 CFR Parts 7, 12, 30, 31, 32 Subpart F, 33, 47; Public Law 101-619, and the Office of Environmental Education 2008 Grant Program Solicitation Notice to be issued in the fall of 2007. Regional or Local Office: See Regional Agency Offices. Contact the appropriate EPA Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog and on the website www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants. Headquarters Office: Karen Scott Environmental Education Grant Program (1704A), Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, District of Columbia 20460 Email: scott.karen@epa.gov Phone: (202) 564-2194 Website Address: http://www.epa.gov/enviroed RELATED PROGRAMS: 66.950 Environmental Education and Training Program |