FEDERAL AGENCY:

OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENT INFORMATION (OEI), ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

AUTHORIZATION:

Clean Air Act of 1963, Sections 103-104, Public Law 101-549; Solid Waste Disposal Act, Section 8001; Toxic Substances Control Act, Section 10, Public 94-469, as amended; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, Section 311, Public Law 95-510, as amended.

Information is fundamental to the work of environmental protection. Environmental decision makers at all levels need timely and high quality environmental information to make informed decisions. Yet, many of the current systems and approaches to information exchange are not designed to meet those needs. EPA, through work with the Environmental Council of the States, has developed a new vision for exchanging environmental data that, when fully established, will help meet those needs. The National Environmental Information Exchange Network (Network) is a major component of the solution envisioned by EPA. The Network utilizes technologies and approaches that help create E-commerce and will provide an alternative to the current approach of exchanging data. These data exchanges will replace and complement the traditional approach to information exchange that currently relies upon data being processed directly to multiple EPA national data systems. Network participants will house information on their own nodes or portals where it will be available upon authorized request.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Available for the allowable direct cost expenditures incident to the performance plus allocable portions of allowable indirect costs in accordance with the established policies of EPA.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   The program is available to agencies of each state, Territory, Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, and possessions of the US, including the District of Columbia, that administer programs and authorities delegate by the EPA.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Federal, State, and local governments, industries, and public institutions subject to EPA reporting requirements, and the public.

Credentials/Documentation:   Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.

Pre-application Coordination:   Interested applicants are encouraged to consult with the appropriate EPA Regional Office identified in Appendix IV of the Catalog or contact the National Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Program Manager, EPA. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   EPA Form SF_424 should be requested, and the completed form submitted to, the appropriate EPA Regional Office identified in Appendix IV of this Catalog. This award is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A_110.

Award Procedure:   Applications will be reviewed by a panel of EPA Headquarters and Regional employees. Final approval of applications and supporting documents and offer of award will be made by EPA Headquarters. All recipients will be asked to develop a detailed program plan within the first 120 days of award, working with EPA, that specifies program outputs and assistance required from EPA.

Deadlines:   Contact agency for deadline information. See Information Contact section below.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Awards will normally be approved/disapproved by close of business July 1, 2002.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   None planned.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   None. However, States and Tribes that are selected to receive both a Network One Stop or Network Readiness Grant and a Network Challenge grant may receive the combined grant funds in a single award. However, if a State or Tribe elects to receive the combined grant funds in a single award, it will have to wait until the Network Challenge grant selections are made to be awarded funds. EPA will award funds to those States and Tribes that only apply for the Network One Stop or Network Readiness Grants after final selections are made. Funds that States or Tribes do not apply for, or ultimately qualify for, under the Network One Stop Grant or the Network Challenge Grant, will be made available through the Network Readiness Grants.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Three years, although EPA anticipates that most activities performed under this grant will be completed in 18-24 months.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Grant recipients must submit a copy of the semiannual program report to the regional grant manager and the headquarters contact. At a minimum, program reports will include: (1) an update on the schedule and status of the implementation of the project, including any implementation problems encountered and suggestions to overcome them; (2) an explanation of expenditures to date, and unless the grant is included in the PPG (40 CFR.Part 35.530(b) and 40 CFR Part 35.130(b)), expenditures linked to project results; and (3) an assessment of progress in meeting project goals, including output and outcome measures when available.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made for that year. OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," was published in the Federal Register on June 30, 1997. The Circular implements the Single Audit Act amendments of 1996. The Circular requires nonfederal entities that expend more than $300,000 in Federal award dollars, to have an audit conducted in accordance with the Circular's provisions. With the revised Circular, the previous OMB Circular No. A-128 for single audits of State and local government was rescinded and the single audit requirements for these entities were incorporated among the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133.

Records:   Financial records including all documents to support entries on accounting records and to substantiate charges to each grant, must be kept available to personnel authorized to examine EPA grants accounts. All such records must be maintained until expiration of three years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions still remain, such as those raised as a result of audit, related records should be retained until the matter is completely resolved.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   68-0108-0-1-304.

Obligations:   (Cooperative Agreements) FY 01 est $3,000,000; FY 02 est $25,000,000; and FY 03 est Not available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$100,000 to $1,000,000.

EPA is launching its Network Grant Program in fiscal year 2002. The State grant program is designed to help EPA, States, Tribes, and our other partners exchange environmental information and use consistent data. The program has four main parts: 1) Network One Stop Grants; 2) Network Readiness Grants; 3) Network Challenge Grants; and 4) Network Administration Grants. These grants will increase States capacity to integrate their environmental data, reduce reporting burden, enhance electronic reporting, provide public access to data, and participate on the Network. Grant guidance was developed during the past summer in consultation with our State and Tribal partners. EPA announced the solicitation for applications for this program in the Federal Register in early February 2002. State, Tribal, and EPA data on the network will both facilitate understanding of various environmental issues, and serve as a precursor to understanding what data needs exist in order to more fully comprehend environmental conditions. EPA envisions that this grant program will need multiple year funding to accomplish the implementation of the Exchange Network.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Eligible entities must designate a single lead agency that will have overall responsibility for developing the grant proposal, submitting the grant application, and managing grant funds. Along with their grant proposals applicants must also submit: 1. Federal Grant Forms - Federal Standard Forms 424 and 424A. SF 424: Application for Federal Assistance, the official form required for all federal grants, requests basic information about the grantee and the proposed project. 2. Confidential Information - Applicants should clearly mark information in their grant proposals that they consider to be confidential. 3. Pre-application Assistance - Applicants seeking assistance on developing any of the grants should contact the appropriate regional or headquarters contact. 4. Submission of Multiple Grant Applications - States and Tribes submitting Network One Stop, Network Readiness, and/or Network Challenge applications may submit applications at the same time. 5. Lead Agency - The Lead Agency designated by the eligible entity must submit a single application. 6. A clear definition of project goals and measures. 7. Funding Vehicle Preference.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Individuals are encouraged to contact the appropriate EPA Regional office listed in Appendix IV of the catalogue.

Headquarters Office:   Lyn Burger, US EPA, OEI, Mail Code 2812, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460; Phone (202) 564-0200; Fax (202) 501-1718; E-mail Burger.Lyn@epa.gov.

Web Site Address:   www.epa.gov/neengprg

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Under the One Stop Reporting program: the States of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, Missouri, Utah, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Oregon, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Maryland, Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Arizona.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Network One Stop grants are intended to stimulate a partnership with applicants who have decided to undertake a comprehensive re-engineering of their information management process in order to reduce the burden of environmental reporting on the regulated community, integrate agency data and data management processes across program and organizational lines, and improve public access to environmental information. Network Readiness Grants will be evaluated on how they best address critical steps and milestones that will be taken over the next three years that demonstrate commitment for participation on the Network. Network Challenge Grants will be reviewed on their feasibility, and on their potential to make a contribution to nationwide Network capacity. Network Administration Grants are designed to support the technical and administrative functions of the Network for states and Tribes.