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

This program provides funding in support of surveys, studies, investigations, training/demonstrations, educational outreach and special purpose assistance as they relate to environmental information and the release of toxic chemicals. This program educates the public on how to obtain access to and effectively use environmental information, including information about toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities. Through this grant program, EPA intends to enhance the public's understanding of environmental data, in general, and the potential risks and hazards of releases of toxic chemicals to communities as they relate to facilities covered under the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Program; support efforts to assist state, tribal and local governments improve management of environmental information; identify priorities and opportunities for the public and state, tribal and local governments to work with industry to reduce toxic chemical disposal or other releases and potential risks associated with them; and establish reduction targets and measure progress toward reduction goals. Other program objectives are to access TRI and other toxic chemical information to other organizations so they can help facilitate and manage activities that will further promote analysis, understanding, and use of TRI and other toxic chemical data to prevent pollution, improve environmental performance, and reduce the hazards/risks associated with toxic chemical releases within communities. Through this grant program, EPA also intends to enhance public understanding of environmental information generally and the potential risks and hazards of releases of toxic chemicals to their communities; support efforts to assist interested stakeholders (e.g., members of the public, industry, community organizations, academic institutions, state, tribal and local officials, non-governmental organizations, etc.), to improve the management, access, understanding and use of TRI and other toxic chemical information; and to utilize TRI and related information to prioritize community action and develop opportunities for interested stakeholders to work with industry to achieve beneficial outcomes such as improved data quality, environmental compliance, and reduced toxic chemical disposal or other releases and associated potential risks. Funding Priorities - Fiscal Year 2017 and 2018: Expansion of TRI stakeholder education and outreach; use of various avenues to deliver TRI related training to interested stakeholders such as online seminars; engagement with new communities and organizations that could benefit from increased awareness, understanding and use of TRI; and promotion of access and use of TRI and other related data among grass roots community organizations such as producing analyses or training community leaders.

Increasing community awareness and use of environmental information through Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) education and outreach.

Assistance under this program is generally available to states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories (for example, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), federally recognized Indian tribes, intertribal consortia of federally recognized tribes, public and private colleges and universities, and other public or private nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that lobby are not eligible for financial assistance. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.

State, territory, city, town, county, and regional governments; federally recognized Indian tribes and intertribal consortia of federally recognized tribes; public institutions and industries subject to EPA regulatory reporting requirements; and the public.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have appropriate background, academic training, experience in the field, and necessary equipment to carry out projects. EPA will ask applicants or principle investigators to provide curricula vitae and relevant publications. EPA may ask for documentation of nonprofit status.

Grants and cooperative agreements are available to support recipients' allowable direct costs incident to approved scopes of work plus allowable indirect costs, in accordance with established EPA policies and regulations. Funding awarded for research does not include research within the purview of EPA's Office of Research and Development. Costs will be determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200 Subpart E.

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.

Regarding pre-application/pre-proposal assistance with respect to competitive funding opportunities under this CFDA assistance listing, 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.

Applicants, except in limited circumstances approved by the Agency, must submit all initial applications for funding through https://www.grants.gov .

The evaluation and selection criteria for competitive awards under this CFDA assistance listing will be described in the competitive announcement.

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. For non-competitive awards, EPA selects proposed Surveys, Studies, and Investigations projects for funding under this CFDA assistance listing based on factors such as relevancy to EPA's mission, technical merit, and the likelihood of success

Specific information regarding deadlines is provided in the competitive announcement.

Approximately 180 days.

None. Generally, EPA incrementally funds grants and cooperative agreements for surveys, studies, and investigations. Approval of subsequent funding increments is dependent on satisfactory project progress, continued relevance of the project to EPA's priorities, and availability of funds, and the Agency policy on the competitive grant process.

Assistance agreement competition-related disputes will be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures published in 70 FR (Federal Register) 3629, 3630 (January 26, 2005). Copies of these procedures may also be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed as "Information Contacts." Disputes relating to matters other than the competitive selection of recipients will be resolved under 2 CFR 1500 Subpart E, as applicable