SHC Climate Change and EJ RFA_ FINAL.pdf

COVID-19 Update: EPA is providing flexibilities to applicants experiencing challenges related to COVID-19. Please see the Flexibilities Available to Organizations Impacted by COVID-19 clause in Section IV of EPA’s Solicitation Clauses.

OVERVIEW INFORMATION

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Science Advisor, Policy and Engagement Office of Research and Development Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program

Cumulative Health Impacts at the Intersection of Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and Vulnerable Populations/Lifestages: Community-Based Research for Solutions

This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity.

Funding Opportunity Number: EPA-G2021-STAR-H1

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 66.509

Solicitation Opening Date: September 16, 2021 Solicitation Closing Date: November 16, 2021: 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time

Table of Contents

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Synopsis of Program Award Information Eligibility Information Application Materials Agency Contacts

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Introduction

B. Background C. Authority and Regulations D. Specific Areas of Interest/Expected Outputs and Outcomes E. References F. Special Requirements

II. AWARD INFORMATION

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-solicitation-clauses

A. Eligible Applicants B. Cost Sharing C. Other

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Grants.gov Submittal Requirements and Limited Exception Procedures B. Application Package Information C. Content and Form of Application Submission D. Submission Dates and Times E. Funding Restrictions F. Submission Instructions and Other Submission Requirements

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. Peer Review B. Relevancy Review C. Past Performance History Review D. Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS) Review E. Evaluation of the Scientific Data Management Plan F. Funding Decisions G. Additional Provisions for Applicants Incorporated into the Solicitation

VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notices B. Disputes C. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

For Updates and Additional Information (https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities) Access Standard STAR Forms (https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms) View research awarded under previous solicitations (https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas)

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Synopsis of Program:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications proposing transdisciplinary research with approaches that explore and analyze environmental problems at the intersection of climate change, environmental justice (EJ), and vulnerable populations/lifestages. Specifically, proposed projects should address all of the following research questions: (1) What may be the most influential community-, population- or lifestage-specific vulnerabilities caused by ongoing climate change that would elevate exposure to pollutants or contaminants and further exacerbate the health effects from exposure to pollutants or contaminants in underserved communities? (2) What are the cumulative health impacts of climate change related stressors on vulnerable groups or susceptible lifestages in underserved communities? (3) How can community-based scientific https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-grant-areas research results be translated and/or applied to provide effective solutions to reduce climate change impacts on human health in underserved communities?

This solicitation provides the opportunity for the submission of applications for projects that may involve human subjects research. Human subjects research supported by the EPA is governed by EPA Regulation 40 CFR Part 26 (Protection of Human Subjects). This includes the Common Rule at subpart A and prohibitions and additional protections for pregnant women and fetuses, nursing women, and children at subparts B, C, and D. Research meeting the regulatory definition of intentional exposure research found in subpart B is prohibited by that subpart in pregnant women, nursing women, and children. Research meeting the regulatory definition of observational research found in subparts C and D is subject to the additional protections found in those subparts for pregnant women and fetuses (subpart C) and children (subpart D). All applications must include a Human Subjects Research Statement (HSRS, as described in Section IV.C.6.c of this solicitation), and if the project involves human subjects research, it will be subject to an additional level of review prior to funding decisions being made as described in Sections V.D and V.F of this solicitation.

Guidance and training for investigators conducting EPA-funded research involving human subjects may be obtained here:

https://www.epa.gov/osa/basic-information-about-human-subjects-research-0 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40cfr26_main_02.tpl

Award Information:

Anticipated Type of Award: Grant or cooperative agreement Estimated Number of Awards: Approximately six awards. To increase the number of grants awarded to institutions who have not traditionally received awards, EPA intends to make at least one award to a “new awardee” as defined in Section V.F. Funding Decisions. This is subject to change based on funding levels, the quality of applications received, and other applicable considerations. See Section V.F. Funding Decisions for additional information.

Anticipated Funding Amount: Approximately $8.1M total for all awards Potential Funding per Award: Up to a total of $1,350,000, including direct and indirect costs, with a maximum duration of 3 years. Cost-sharing is not required. Applications with budgets exceeding the total award limits will not be considered.

Eligibility Information:

Public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and hospitals located in the U.S. and its territories or possessions; state and local governments; Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments; and U.S. territories or possessions are eligible to apply. See full announcement for more details.

Application Materials:

To apply under this solicitation, use the application package available at Grants.gov (for further submission information see Section IV.F. “Submission Instructions and other Submission Requirements”). Note: With the exception of the current and pending support form (available at https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-https://www.epa.gov/osa/basic-information-about-human-subjects-research-0 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40cfr26_main_02.tpl https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms forms), all necessary forms are included in the electronic application package. Make sure to include the current and pending support form in your Grants.gov submission.

If your organization is not currently registered with Grants.gov, you need to allow approximately one month to complete the registration process. Please note that the registration process also requires that your organization have a DUNS number and a current registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) and the process of obtaining both could take a month or more.

Applicants must ensure that all registration requirements are met in order to apply for this opportunity through Grants.gov and should ensure that all such requirements have been met well in advance of the submission deadline. This registration, and electronic submission of your application, must be performed by an authorized representative of your organization.

If you do not have the appropriate internet access to utilize the Grants.gov application submission process for this solicitation, see Section IV.A below for additional guidance and instructions.

Agency Contacts:

Technical Contact: Intaek Hahn; phone: 202-564-4377; email: hahn.intaek@epa.gov Eligibility Contact: Ron Josephson; phone: 202-564-7823; email: josephson.ron@epa.gov Electronic Submissions Contact: Debra M. Jones; phone: 202-564-7839; email:

jones.debram@epa.gov

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. Introduction

Environmental justice (EJ) is an integral part of EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. EJ is defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. Fair treatment means no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or policies.

Meaningful involvement means people have an opportunity to participate in decisions about activities that may affect their environment and/or health; the public's contribution can influence the regulatory agency's decision; community concerns will be considered in the decision-making process; and decision makers will seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected. For purposes of this competition and the evaluation of applications, “underserved communities” refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, including people/communities of color, low income, tribal and indigenous populations, and other vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and those who have pre-existing medical conditions.

https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/research-funding-opportunities-how-apply-and-required-forms mailto:hahn.intaek@epa.gov mailto:josephson.ron@epa.gov mailto:jones.debram@epa.gov

The goal of EJ may be achieved when all people have the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and have equitable access to decision-making processes to maintain a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work [1]. Underserved communities, including the communities described above, often are disproportionately vulnerable to environmental health harm and risks [2] because they are faced with greater exposure to many sources of pollutants or contaminants (chemical stressors), disadvantaged due to long term environmental policies resulting in wealth and health inequities or disparities, and underserved in adaptive capacity to respond to and cope with emerging environmental stressors caused by climate change [3, 4]. For these reasons, climate change (https://www.epa.gov/climate-change) may present additional risks in these communities, compounding adverse environmental conditions (also known as social determinants of health [5]) and stressors (chemical and non-chemical), resulting in more severe cumulative impacts.

Recent Executive Orders (EOs) recognizing increasing concerns and an urgent need for solutions include:

• EO 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government

• EO 13990: Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis

• EO 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad

EO 14008 includes a directive to agencies to “decrease risk of climate change to children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and the other vulnerable groups.” The U.S. Global Change Research Program’s (USGCRP) description of climate change vulnerability in its report, The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment [6] demonstrates the case for heightened vulnerability in underserved communities.

https://www.epa.gov/climate-change https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2021%2F01%2F25%2F2021-01753%2Fadvancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government&data=04%7C01%7Chahn.intaek%40epa.gov%7C76343068001e475feff808d91549e0ba%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637564229922305360%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=WbMBlAl21bGTGFf3zXG3zFJKguyTgWPdmxPwhEj%2BgV0%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2021%2F01%2F25%2F2021-01753%2Fadvancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government&data=04%7C01%7Chahn.intaek%40epa.gov%7C76343068001e475feff808d91549e0ba%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637564229922305360%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=WbMBlAl21bGTGFf3zXG3zFJKguyTgWPdmxPwhEj%2BgV0%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fbriefing-room%2Fpresidential-actions%2F2021%2F01%2F20%2Fexecutive-order-protecting-public-health-and-environment-and-restoring-science-to-tackle-climate-crisis%2F&data=04%7C01%7Chahn.intaek%40epa.gov%7C76343068001e475feff808d91549e0ba%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637564229922315302%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=HgxpwgbyIowq8cvQE4%2BBZZRUyTTNSPb4CooJPh6%2BsEk%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fbriefing-room%2Fpresidential-actions%2F2021%2F01%2F20%2Fexecutive-order-protecting-public-health-and-environment-and-restoring-science-to-tackle-climate-crisis%2F&data=04%7C01%7Chahn.intaek%40epa.gov%7C76343068001e475feff808d91549e0ba%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637564229922315302%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=HgxpwgbyIowq8cvQE4%2BBZZRUyTTNSPb4CooJPh6%2BsEk%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fbriefing-room%2Fpresidential-actions%2F2021%2F01%2F27%2Fexecutive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad%2F&data=04%7C01%7Chahn.intaek%40epa.gov%7C76343068001e475feff808d91549e0ba%7C88b378b367484867acf976aacbeca6a7%7C0%7C0%7C637564229922315302%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=dKYD4BtLZKo9oN%2F%2B11dAz8AOE0UR%2FW62ip%2F0f7VKBys%3D&reserved=0 https://health2016.globalchange.gov/low/ClimateHealth2016_FullReport_small.pdf https://health2016.globalchange.gov/low/ClimateHealth2016_FullReport_small.pdf

Fig 1. Defining the determinants of vulnerability to health impacts associated with climate change, including exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Health impacts from climate change vary with lifestages, as well as inherent sensitivities [6].

Health impacts from climate change vary with lifestages, as well as inherent sensitivities.

Children, the elderly, and people with disabilities or pre-existing health conditions (USGCRP’s “population of concern”) may be most susceptible and vulnerable to climate changes and associated environmental stressors. The most vulnerable lifestages (see EPA’s 2005 Guidance on Selecting Age Groups for Monitoring and Assessing Childhood Exposures to Environmental Contaminants) are the developing fetus, infants, toddlers, early childhood through puberty, pregnant and nursing women, and the elderly (65 years or older) [7-13]. The terms, lifestage, susceptibility, and vulnerability are defined as:

Lifestage – A distinguishable time frame in an individual's life characterized by unique and relatively stable behavioral and/or physiological characteristics that are associated with development and growth.

Susceptibility – Differences in risk resulting from variation in both toxicity response (sensitivity) and exposure (as a result of gender, lifestage, and behavior).

Vulnerability – Differences in risk resulting from the combination of both intrinsic differences in susceptibility and extrinsic social stress factors such as low socioeconomic status, crime and violence, lack of community resources, crowding, access to health care, education, poverty, segregation, geography, etc.

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2013-09/documents/agegroups.pdf

In the academic and scientific research fields some scholars describe environmental justice issues as being the products of complex social contexts, characterized by four dimensions: distributive justice, procedural justice, recognitional justice, and justice of capabilities [4, 14, 15]. Attaining environmental justice calls for various actions including equitable distribution of resources;

fairness in the procedures of distribution; appropriate recognition of the less privileged, disadvantaged and often marginalized people throughout decision-making processes; and development of capabilities and conditions necessary to support a healthy functioning community. Environmental justice and community sustainability cannot be fully addressed without taking into account all four dimensions of EJ, and solving EJ problems requires integration of social and environmental science research [16]. There is substantial scientific evidence indicating that social determinants of health [5] (e.g., socioeconomic status, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, social and community support) and racial/ethnic factors significantly modify the health impacts (e.g., diseases, premature aging, increased allostatic load, etc.) from exposure to pollutants and non-chemical stressors [17-38]. For example, racial/income disparities in access to municipal water supplies have been documented [39, 40] along with the impacts of exclusion from municipal water service on water availability and childhood blood lead levels [41-44]. Scientific evidence showing adverse children’s health due to the lack of clean municipal water supply in underserved communities led to actions correcting the disparate environmental conditions [45-47]. The USGCRP’s conceptual diagram “Climate Change and Health” (Fig. 2) illustrates these points [6].

The diagram explains that, for underserved communities and their residents, the factors in the right (social & behavioral context) and left (environmental & institutional context) boxes often negatively affect the exposure pathways and health outcomes, including mental health.

Fig 2. Conceptual diagram [6] illustrating the exposure pathways by which climate change affects human health.

The center boxes list some selected examples of the kinds of changes in climate drivers, exposure, and health outcomes. Exposure pathways exist within the context of other factors that positively or negatively influence health outcomes (gray side boxes). Some of the key factors that influence vulnerability for individuals are shown in the right box and include social determinants of health and behavioral choices. Some key factors that influence vulnerability at larger scales, such as natural and built environments, governance and management, and institutions, are shown in the left box. All of these influencing factors can affect an individual’s or a community’s vulnerability through changes in exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity and may also be affected by climate change. For underserved communities and their residents, the factors in the right (social & behavioral context) and left (environmental & institutional context) boxes often negatively affect the exposure pathways and health outcomes, including mental health.

One of the major research priorities of EPA’s Sustainable and Healthy Communities (SHC) National Research Program is to promote and build healthy and resilient communities by assessing the impacts of pollution in conjunction with other environmental stressors on vulnerable populations/lifestages in underserved communities [48]. According to the data estimated by the EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM), as of October 2017, approximately 21 million people (roughly 6% of the U.S. population) including https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-05/documents/shc_final_strap_fy_19-22.pdf approximately 7% of all children in the U.S. under the age of 5, live within 1 mile of a Superfund site. Scientific evidence suggests that pollutants to which children are exposed during early lifestages (including prenatal stage) are crucial determinants of their lifetime health [49-58] and the elderly with underlying health conditions may be especially vulnerable to a changing climate [59]. Exposures to cumulative mixtures of chemicals, along with non-chemical environmental stressors such as poverty or limited access to social and healthcare services or support, may pose elevated early developmental risks, resulting in cumulative life-long adverse health effects.

Accurate and comprehensive cumulative exposure assessments are needed to conduct risk assessment and identify and implement appropriate measures for reduction, adaptation, and prevention.

In recent years, there have been many research advances in the areas of environmental health disparities, global climate change, environmental justice, social determinants of health, cumulative exposure and health effects, and children’s health. However, comprehensive integrated research is still needed to investigate the intersection of the impacts of climate change, environmental justice, and vulnerable populations/lifestages. Key insights may emerge with respect to identifying the mechanisms by and extent to which environmental injustices, social vulnerability, lifestage susceptibility, and specific climate-related environmental changes intersect to induce or elevate population- or lifestage-specific health impacts.

To the extent possible, the research results or findings should produce innovative yet practical outputs that are applicable or generalizable to other underserved communities across the nation.

All research projects will be required to include a Community Engagement Plan to work on community-engaged problem identification (such as community-led assets and vulnerabilities mapping), translation, and community-driven solutions to bring about desired outcomes. The description of the Community Engagement Plan is provided in Sections I.D and IV.C.6.e.

The Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program’s goal is to stimulate and support scientific and engineering research that advances EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment.

It is a competitive, peer-reviewed, extramural research program that provides access to the nation’s best scientists and engineers in academic and other nonprofit research institutions.

STAR funds research on the environmental and public health effects of air quality, environmental changes, water quality and quantity, hazardous waste, toxic substances, and pesticides.

EPA recognizes that it is important to engage all available minds to address the environmental challenges the Nation faces. At the same time, EPA seeks to expand the environmental conversation by including members of communities which may have not previously participated in such dialogues to participate in EPA programs. For this reason, EPA strongly encourages all eligible applicants identified in Section III, including minority serving institutions (MSIs), to apply under this opportunity.

For purposes of this solicitation, the following are considered MSIs:

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/webpopulationrsuperfundsites9.28.15.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/webpopulationrsuperfundsites9.28.15.pdf

1. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1061(2)). A list of these schools can be found at Historically Black Colleges and Universities;

2. Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059c(b)(3) and (d)(1)). A list of these schools can be found at American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities;

3. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1101a(a)(5)). A list of these schools can be found at Hispanic-Serving Institutions;

4. Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions; (AANAPISIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1059g(b)(2)). A list of these schools can be found at Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions; and

5. Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs), as defined by the Higher Education Act of 2008, 20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)(6). A list of these schools can be found at Predominately Black Institutions.

B. Background

Climate change can create various levels of environmental and health impacts in different regions, communities, and population groups or lifestages across the nation. Scientific research confirms that natural, built, and social environmental conditions significantly modify (as non-chemical stressors) the health effects from exposure to chemical stressors (pollutants) [60-65].

The importance of understanding and addressing the health effects resulting from interactions between pollutants and non-chemical stressors (such as social determinants of health) and the built, natural, and social environments, also referred as the “total environment” [53], has been recognized by environmental science and public health programs and strategies (Examples include: U.S. EPA, 2003 [66]; U.S. EPA, 2009 [67]; U.S EPA, 2012 [64]; Healthy People 2020 [62], WHO, 2005 [61], and U.S. EPA, 2015. [52]). Research is needed that can identify critical chemical and non-chemical stressors and their interactions to be used in furthering scientific investigations and potentially be applied to the development of environmental health policies, interventions, and programs.

The total environment framework [53, 68] emphasizes a holistic approach that considers the cumulative impacts of pollutants in the context of vulnerability and susceptibility to adverse health effects. Vulnerability and susceptibility are affected by the natural, built, and social environments interacting with people’s inherent characteristics. Changes in climate can alter the natural, built, and social environments and how they affect health. For communities that are already underserved, climate change may represent serious additional stressor(s) that may lead to more severe cumulative health impacts, especially in the most vulnerable populations/lifestages.

Many underserved communities lack natural capital, built infrastructure, and social capacity, and https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/one-hundred-and-five-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/whiaiane/tribes-tcus/tribal-colleges-and-universities/ https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/hispanic-serving-institutions-hsis/ https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1XVkOWKMDORm53pvU0L8EPsrJC94&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=m&z=3&source=embed&ll=40.58644586187277%2C-148.28228249999984 https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1wlIi3j7gtlNq_w-0NKAb2bF2VmY&ie=UTF&msa=0&ll=37.35160769312532%2C-96.17229800000001&z=4 therefore are more likely to suffer sustained and even permanent damage from the impacts of climate change without hope of recovery, further worsening the health disparities, especially in certain vulnerable populations/lifestages.

In 2019, the STAR Request for Applications (RFA), “Contaminated Sites, Natural Disasters, Changing Environmental Conditions and Vulnerable Communities: Research to Build Resilience” fostered research on how to build community-level resilience against extreme events in communities near contaminated sites within the context of protecting their most vulnerable residents (young children and the elderly.) There are different definitions of “resilience” [69-73], but the core emphasis remains improving public health and well-being in a community by protecting at-risk or vulnerable groups. EPA’s SHC National Research Program uses the following definition: “Resilience is the capacity of a social-ecological system to cope with a hazardous event or disturbance, responding or reorganizing in ways that maintain its essential function, identity, and structure, while also maintaining the capacity for adaptation, learning and transformation.”

Other relevant RFAs for purposes of this competition include the 2009 EPA STAR RFA, “Understanding the Role of Non-chemical Stressors and Developing Analytic Methods for Cumulative Risk Assessments”; the 2014 EPA-NIEHS Joint RFA, “Centers of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities Research”; the 2016 EPA STAR RFA, “Integrating Human Health and Well-Being with Ecosystem Services”; and the 2017 STAR RFA, “Using a Total Environment Framework (Built, Natural, Social Environments) to Assess Life-long Health Effects of Chemical Exposures.” These efforts have improved the scientific understanding associated with cumulative effects of multiple chemical and non-chemical stressors, environmental justice variables, and health disparity outcomes within the holistic total environment research framework. This RFA aims to advance the scientific understanding associated with the cumulative health impacts of climate change on susceptible early life stages or vulnerable populations in underserved communities that are already strained due to a variety of factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, social and community support).

Researchers are encouraged to refer to “Social vulnerability: Social science perspectives on climate change” [6] and consider using EJ screening or other EJ GIS mapping tools and EJ indicators to prioritize community-specific non-chemical stressors or environmental variables when conducting community-engaged vulnerability assessments or mapping. Some examples of EJ screening and mapping tools include:

• USEPA EJSCREEN1,

1Environmental Justice Web-based Screening Tool - Applicants are encouraged, as appropriate, to include data from EPA’s EJSCREEN tool (or other EJ-focused geospatial mapping tools) as part of their application to help characterize and describe the affected communities/populations and areas and address the environmental justice criterion in Section V. Data from other sources (e.g. studies, census, and third-party reports) should also be included https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.rfatext/rfa_id/654 https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.rfatext/rfa_id/654 https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.rfatext/rfa_id/654 https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.rfatext/rfa_id/515 https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.rfatext/rfa_id/515 https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.files/fileID/15461 https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.files/fileID/15461 https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.rfatext/rfa_id/616 https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.rfatext/rfa_id/616 https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.rfatext/rfa_id/630 https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.rfatext/rfa_id/630 https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.rfatext/rfa_id/630 https://www.globalchange.gov/sites/globalchange/files/Vulnerability%20-%20SSCC%20workshop%20Part%201%204-9-2018.pdf https://www.globalchange.gov/sites/globalchange/files/Vulnerability%20-%20SSCC%20workshop%20Part%201%204-9-2018.pdf https://www.epa.gov/ejscreen

• CalEnviroScreen (California),

• Potential Environmental Justice Areas (New York),

• EJ Start (Illinois),

• Environmental Justice Communities (Connecticut),

• EJ Mapper (New Mexico),

• eMap (Pennsylvania),

• Understanding Environmental Justice in Minnesota (Minnesota),

• https://files.nc.gov/ncdeq/EJ/GIS-examples.pdf (North Carolina)

Researchers may also refer to or consider using various scientific reports, guidance or tools regarding vulnerability, sustainability or resilience. Some examples include:

• EPA’s EnviroAtlas for mapping community assets and vulnerabilities

• EPA’s Community Health Vulnerability Index (CHVI)

• EPA’s Superfund Climate Resilience: Vulnerability Assessment

• Framework for Sustainability Indicators at EPA

• EPA Drinking Water and Wastewater Resilience

• An Inventory of EPA's Tools for Enhancing Community Resilience to Disasters

• EPA tool ExpoKids: Data Visualization Tool for Aggregate Exposure by Lifestage and

Media.

• EPA’s Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU)

C. Authority and Regulations

The authorities for this RFA and resulting awards are contained in the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C.

7403, Section 103(b)(3); Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1254, Section 104(b)(3); Solid Waste Disposal Act, 42 U.S.C. 6981, Section 8001; Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 300j-1, Section 1442; Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2609, Section 10, as amended by P.L. 106-74;

and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. 136r, Section 20, as amended by P.L. 106-74.

For research with an international aspect, the above statutes are supplemented, as appropriate, by the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 102(2)(F).

Note that a project’s focus is to consist of activities within the statutory terms of EPA’s financial assistance authorities; specifically, the statute(s) listed above. Generally, a project must address the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction and elimination of air pollution, water pollution, solid/hazardous waste pollution, toxic substances control or pesticide control depending on which statute(s) is listed above. Further note applications dealing with any aspect of or related to hydraulic fracking will not be funded by EPA through this program.

to give a more complete picture of the impacted communities and populations. Instructions, resources, and tutorials on how to use EJSCREEN are included at the hyperlink above.

https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/report/calenviroscreen-30 https://www.dec.ny.gov/public/911.html http://illinois-epa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=f154845da68a4a3f837cd3b880b0233c https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2688&q=322378&deepNav_GID=1511 https://gis.web.env.nm.gov/oem/?map=egis https://www.dep.pa.gov/PublicParticipation/OfficeofEnvironmentalJustice/Pages/PA-Environmental-Justice-Areas.aspx http://mpca.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=f5bf57c8dac24404b7f8ef1717f57d00 https://files.nc.gov/ncdeq/EJ/GIS-examples.pdf https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-07/documents/community_health_vulnerability_index.pdf https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-climate-resilience-vulnerability-assessment https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-10/documents/framework-for-sustainability-indicators-at-epa.pdf https://www.epa.gov/waterresilience https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_file_download.cfm?p_download_id=528735&Lab=NHSRC https://www.epa.gov/expobox/expokids-data-visualization-tool-aggregate-exposure-lifestage-and-media https://www.epa.gov/expobox/expokids-data-visualization-tool-aggregate-exposure-lifestage-and-media https://www.epa.gov/crwu

Additional applicable regulations include: 2 CFR Part 200, 2 CFR Part 1500, and 40 CFR Part 40 (Research and Demonstration Grants).

D. Specific Areas of Interest/Expected Outputs and Outcomes Note to applicant: The term “output” means an environmental activity, effort, and/or associated work products related to an environmental goal or objective, that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a specified date. The term “outcome” means the result, effect or consequence that will occur from carrying out an environmental program or activity that is related to an environmental or programmatic goal or objective.

The activities to be funded under this announcement support EPA’s FY 2018-22 Strategic Plan (https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan). Activities to be funded under this announcement support Goal 3: Greater Certainty, Compliance, and Effectiveness, Objective 3.3:

Prioritize Robust Science, of EPA’s FY 2018-22 Strategic Plan. All applications must be for projects that support the goal and objective identified above. Awards made under this announcement will further EPA’s priorities supporting robust science for Sustainable and Healthy Communities. The proposed research awards support the STAR Program’s goal of stimulating and supporting scientific and engineering research that advances EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment in the area of sustainable and healthy communities.

Specifically, the research awards will address environmental problems at the intersection of climate change, environmental justice, and vulnerable populations and will produce solutions, measures, and strategies for use by state, tribal, and local environmental programs and communities to reduce adverse health effects resulting from exposure to pollutants in underserved communities.

EPA also requires that grant applicants adequately describe environmental outputs and outcomes to be achieved under assistance agreements (see EPA Order 5700.7A1, Environmental Results under Assistance Agreements, https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements). Applicants must include specific statements describing the environmental results of the proposed project in terms of well-defined outputs and, to the maximum extent practicable, well-defined outcomes that will demonstrate how the project will contribute to the priorities described above.

The proposed research should be as responsive as possible in addressing and integrating all three research questions described below into one comprehensive and holistic environmental health research project. Applicants are strongly encouraged to engage, partner, and collaborate with underserved community(ies) in addressing each research question. In addressing the three research questions within an integrated and comprehensive total environment research framework, researchers, in collaboration with their community partners, are strongly recommended to:

1. Partner with underserved community(ies). (Please refer to the required Community Engagement Plan in Section I.D. and Section IV.C.6.e).

https://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements https://www.epa.gov/grants/epa-order-57007a1-epas-policy-environmental-results-under-epa-assistance-agreements

2. Collaborate with the underserved community(ies) to examine their human health vulnerabilities to climate change (Refer to Fig. 1). Identify specific ongoing climate change impact(s) expected to increase adverse health impacts either/both by increasing risk of exposure to pollutants/contaminants or by influencing modifying factors (Refer to Fig. 2). Identify specific populations and/or lifestages to study differential impacts within the underserved community(ies).

3. Provide a hypothesis regarding the specific intersection of climate change impact(s), the underserved community(ies), and increased vulnerability or risks to study the potential impacts on the health of the community(ies) most vulnerable populations/lifestages.

4. Include social, health, and economic impacts in the proposed research. Identify how historic and/or current societal and environmental conditions intersect to affect how climate change contributes to acute and/or chronic changes to the natural, built, and/or social environment in the identified underserved community(ies).

5. Research results should be generalized so that they can be applied to other underserved communities or populations with similar EJ concerns and vulnerabilities.

Applications that integrate a diverse field of disciplines (social science, environmental health, economics, public health, community-based participatory research, epidemiology, engineering, environmental science, biology, statistics, toxicology, chemistry, etc.) to address the complexity of the research problem are strongly encouraged. Note that non-chemical stressors (e.g., social determinants of health such as nutrition, social conditions, stress, socioeconomic status and cultural factors) cannot be considered alone, but applicants are strongly encouraged to include them as secondary or modifying variables to the contaminant(s)/chemical stressor(s).

Applications that do not address and integrate all three research questions described below may not be evaluated as favorably as those that do. Applicants may focus their research on one or multiple populations/lifestages. Research addressing multiple populations/lifestages will not necessarily be rated more highly than those that only focus on one.

The relevant research questions and possible sub-topics are listed below for applicants to employ in shaping their research project. Applicants are not required to include all the sub-topic examples or limit their research scope to these examples.

Research Questions and example sub-topics:

(1) What may be the most influential community-, population- or lifestage-specific vulnerabilities caused by ongoing climate change that would elevate exposure to pollutants or contaminants and further exacerbate the health effects from exposure to pollutants or contaminants in underserved communities? (Refer to Fig. 1 & 2). Examples of subtopics include:

• Identify and describe the specific contaminants or pollutants, the environmental media, exposure routes, and health effects or disparities in the underserved community your project is addressing.

• Identify and characterize the expected most influential climate change impacts affecting underserved communities in the U.S. Be specific: the selected climate change impacts should be scientifically corroborated to be ongoing or likely event(s)/condition(s) to the underserved community being investigated.

• Identify lifestages that might be most susceptible to environmental health risks and how these health risks may occur.

• Explain how the selected climate change impacts could lead to or exacerbate additional vulnerabilities that may adversely impact the health outcomes related to exposures to pollutants or contaminants. Be specific in identifying and describing all major relevant environmental and other factors and conditions such as economic impact, health impact, and other impacts.

• Identify and characterize relevant non-chemical stressors2. (Refer to Fig. 2). Be specific in describing how climate change is affecting occurrence of the stressors and related outcomes, and how the non-chemical stressors are modifying the health effects of pollutants or contaminants in the underserved community your project is investigating.

• Investigate what may be the most influential non-chemical stressors that would elevate vulnerability/susceptibility to pollutants/contaminants and their health effects for the underserved community your project is investigating.

• Examine how climate adaptations might reduce exposure and vulnerability of selected populations and/or lifestages.

(2) What are the cumulative health impacts of climate change related stressors on vulnerable groups or susceptible lifestages in underserved communities? Examples of subtopics include:

• Many underserved communities are low-income and minority communities. Researchers are encouraged to consider other factors in addition to income/race/national origin disparities or socioeconomic factors (for definition of socioeconomic status, see

2 Non-chemical stressors cannot be considered alone, but applicants are asked to include them as secondary or modifying variables to the primary contaminant(s)/chemical stressor(s).

https://www.epa.gov/expobox/exposure-assessment-tools-lifestages-and-populations-highly-exposed-or-other-susceptible).

• Explain how the identified community-specific pollutants/contaminants and non-chemical stressors or environmental variables could be exacerbated or further elevated by climate change to pose cumulative threats to the health of vulnerable groups or susceptible lifestages within underserved communities. Describe how these threats may change at varying social conditions and, contexts, lifestages, and with other vulnerability factors.

• Identify and analyze any local or community public health or environmental health data available to establish the scientific link(s) between climate change, environmental justice, and socially- and physiologically mediated vulnerability.

• Rank, in order of significance, and explain the cumulative contributing factors or effect modifiers that would elevate vulnerability/susceptibility to pollutants/contaminants and their health effects on vulnerable populations/lifestages within underserved communities.

• Characterize and rank the most influential social, natural, and built environmental stressors that would elevate vulnerability/susceptibility to pollutants/contaminants and their health effects on vulnerable populations/lifestages within underserved communities.

(3) How can community-based scientific research results be translated and/or applied to provide effective solutions to reduce climate change impacts on human health in underserved communities? Examples of subtopics include:

• The research results should lead to effective solutions that will address specific EJ concerns of the underserved community(ies) your project is investigating. They should provide solutions to the underserved community(ies) in reducing exposure to pollutants/contaminants and climate change related stressors, mitigating cumulative health impacts, and building adaptive capacity with particular attention paid to vulnerable groups/lifestages.

• The proposed research should describe how results may be translated to support effective decision making leading to environmental equity, effective preventive measures, programs, educational or practical community outreach, risk communication messages, platforms, tools, or engagement efforts (see Community Engagement Plan in Section IV.C.6.e). The goal is to provide potential solutions and tools to practitioners in the fields of environmental justice, climate change, and population/children’s health.

https://www.epa.gov/expobox/exposure-assessment-tools-lifestages-and-populations-highly-exposed-or-other-susceptible https://www.epa.gov/expobox/exposure-assessment-tools-lifestages-and-populations-highly-exposed-or-other-susceptible

• Develop community-based, community-level strategies or solutions to build resilience against non-chemical stressors that would elevate vulnerability/susceptibility to pollutants/contaminants and their health effects among vulnerable populations/lifestages within underserved communities. This may include prevention, risk-reduction, intervention, health-promotion, or best practices to protect the health and well-being of the selected vulnerable groups.

• Identify and explain the roles of ecosystem goods and services, social-ecological-cultural-institutional systems, resources, facilities, infrastructures, programs, or policies in building community-level resilience against non-chemical stressors that would elevate vulnerability/susceptibility to pollutants/contaminants and their health effects among vulnerable populations/lifestages within underserved communities. For example, researchers are encouraged to combine physical infrastructure-centered (built environment) approaches with natural-capital (ecological) and social-capital approaches (i.e., total environmental framework) in building community resilience against potential threats to the community’s most vulnerable groups/lifestages [51, 73-80].

• Describe how vulnerability or resilience indicators, solutions or strategies for the underserved community can be generalized to be applicable to broad scenarios or situations in different underserved communities with similar EJ and health concerns or vulnerabilities to climate change.

• Present scientific method(s) (quantitative and/or qualitative) to assess or verify the effectiveness of proposed solutions in reducing health disparities resulting from pollutant exposure and climate change or attaining environmental justice.

Expected Outputs:

Researchers are strongly encouraged to translate their research findings into appropriate information for underserved communities, public health professionals, remediation, restoration and revitalization professionals, decision makers and the public with the goals of enhancing environmental justice, improving community resilience, and reducing health disparities in the context of the health and well-being of vulnerable populations/lifestages.