[Federal Register: November 4, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 213)]
[Notices]               
[Page 62452-62453]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04no03-48]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7583-2]

 
Request for Applications, Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful 
Algal Blooms Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of financial assistance for project assistance.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that the 
participating agencies are soliciting individual research proposals of 
up to 3 years duration, and depending on appropriations, multi-
disciplinary regional studies of 3 to 5 years duration for the Ecology 
and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) program. This program 
provides support for research on algal species whose populations may 
cause or result in deleterious effects on ecosystems and human health. 
Studies of the causes of such blooms, their detection, effects, 
mitigation, and control in U.S. coastal waters (including estuaries and 
Great Lakes) are solicited. This document details the requirements for 
applications for research support that will be considered by the 
Federal research partnership. The complete program announcement can be 
accessed on the Internet at http://es.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/ under ``Science 
To Achieve Results (STAR) Research Grants''.

DATES: The deadline for applications is January 28, 2004 by 4 EST.

ADDRESSES: Submit the original and eighteen copies of your proposal to 
the Coastal Ocean Program Office, N/SCI2, SSMC4, 8th Floor, 
Room 8243, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The 
required forms for applications with instructions are accessible on the 
Internet at http://es.epa.gov/ncerqa/rfa/forms/downlf.html. Forms may 
be printed from this site.
    Awards: Final selection of awardees by the participating agencies 
will be determined on the basis of peer and panel recommendations, 
applicability of the proposed effort to the interests of an agency, and 
the availability of funds. It is anticipated that each award will be 
made and be administered by a single agency; however, in the case of 
multi-institutional projects, two or more agencies may provide 
assistance. In the latter case, each agency may provide funding for an 
individual project component and/or institution. Applications 
recommended for funding will require additional certifications, 
possibly a revised budget, responses to any comments or suggestions 
offered by the reviewers, and an electronic version of the revised 
project abstract. Awards will be subject to the terms and conditions of 
the sponsoring agency.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical Information: Quay Dortch, 
ECOHAB Coordinator, CSCOR/COP Office, 301-713-3338/ext 157, e-mail: quay.dortch@noaa.gov. Administrative Information: Gina Perovich, EPA/NCER, 202-564-2248, e-mail: perovich.gina@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Program Goals and Topic Areas

    The National Center for Environmental Research/Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA); the Coastal Ocean Program and the Office of 
Protected Resources/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[[Page 62453]]

(NOAA)/Department of Commerce; the Directorate for Geosciences, 
Division of Ocean Sciences/National Science Foundation (NSF); the 
Office of Naval Research (ONR)/Department of Defense; and the Office of 
Earth Science/National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) are 
cooperating in an opportunity for investigators to propose activities 
to address fundamental ecological and oceanographic questions related 
to the national harmful algal bloom (HAB) problem.
    This announcement provides an opportunity for investigators to 
propose activities that address areas in the national problem of 
harmful algal blooms. The primary goal of this interagency program is 
to provide support for projects that are part of an integrated national 
effort to address HAB problems. Thus, ECOHAB will consider support for 
projects ranging from relatively small targeted laboratory or field 
studies by individual investigators or small teams, to regional studies 
involving larger teams of investigators conducting coordinated, well-
integrated multi-disciplinary field programs.
    All studies should address fundamental ecological and oceanographic 
questions related to HABs. Additionally, larger, regionally focused 
studies should attempt to determine the linkages between HAB species 
and their surrounding environments. Modeling efforts should be an 
integral part of these larger studies and these applications should 
also identify potential user communities for models and results. 
Investigators are encouraged to list specific management needs 
identified in the regional community, document the management sources, 
and also document how research results will meet those needs.
    ECOHAB agencies will consider a wide range of studies for support. 
Examples of topic areas for proposed projects are provided in the 
complete announcement (see the SUMMARY in this announcement).
    ECOHAB will support projects ranging from laboratory studies by 
individual investigators or small teams, up to larger teams of 
investigators conducting coordinated, well-integrated, multi-
disciplinary regional field studies or cross-regional comparative 
studies. For individuals and small teams, support may be requested for 
1-3 years duration. Projects focused on multi-disciplinary regional 
studies may request support for 3 to 5 years duration. However, the 
size and duration of the latter studies are dependent on 
appropriations, and potential applicants must obtain permission from 
the ECOHAB Coordinator (see CONTACTS in this announcement) to submit a 
regional or cross-regional study.
    Eligibility: Institutions of higher education and not-for-profit 
institutions located in the U.S., and State or local governments, are 
eligible under all existing authorizations. Some participating agencies 
are authorized to make awards to international institutions, and 
commercial organizations located in the U.S. Federal agencies and 
laboratories are eligible if they can produce certifications or 
documentation which clearly show that they have specific legal 
authority to receive funds from another Federal agency in excess of 
their appropriations. Funding for salaries of full time Federal 
employees will not be allowed. Applications from non-Federal and 
Federal applicants will be evaluated under the same review/selection 
process. Proposals from non-Federal applicants that are selected for 
funding will be funded through a project grant or cooperative agreement 
under the terms of this announcement. Proposals from Federal agencies 
or laboratories deemed acceptable and selected for funding will be 
funded through a medium other than a grant or cooperative agreement, 
such as inter- or intra-agency transfers, where legal authority exists 
for such funding. Note that this announcement is not proposing to 
procure goods and services from Federal applicants; therefore the 
Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 1535) is not an appropriate legal basis.
    How to Apply: The original and eighteen (18) copies of the fully 
developed application (19 in all) and one (1) additional copy of the 
abstract, prepared in accordance with the full announcement, must be 
received by NOAA no later than 4 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date, 
January 28, 2004.
    Program Authorities: For COP: 33 U.S.C. 883d and Pub. L. 105-383; 
for Office of Protected Resources/NOAA: 16 U.S.C. 1382 and 16 U.S.C. 
1421a; EPA: 33 U.S.C 1251 et seq. and 40 CFR parts 30 and 40; for NSF: 
42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.; for ONR: 10 U.S.C 2358 as amended and 31 U.S.C 
6304; and for NASA: 14 CFR part 1260.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Numbers. 11.478 for 
the Coastal Ocean Program; 11.472 for NOAA/Office of Protected 
Resources; 66.509 for the Environmental Protection Agency; 47.050 for 
the National Science Foundation, and 12.300 for the Office of Naval 
Research.

    Dated: October 27, 2003.
John C. Puzak,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Research .
[FR Doc. 03-27674 Filed 11-3-03; 8:45 am]

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