Pesticides and National Strategies for Health Care Providers; Notice of Funds Availability, 6864-6869 [05-2509]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 9, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6864-6869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2509]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPP-2004-0281; FRL-7681-1]


Pesticides and National Strategies for Health Care Providers; 
Notice of Funds Availability

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) is soliciting 
proposals for financial assistance to support a continuing EPA national 
initiative to improve the training of health care providers in 
recognition, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pesticide 
poisonings among those who work with pesticides. OPP will establish 
cooperative agreements with two different organizations whose work 
collectively will cover a range of activities needed to improve the 
recognition and management of pesticide-related health conditions. 
Funded projects will focus on creating significant institutional change 
in health care providers' educational and practice settings through 
education, professional training, and the development of new resources 
and tools on pesticide-related health conditions. The total funding 
available for award in FY 2005, which represents funding set aside in 
FY2004, is expected to be approximately $265,000, with two cooperative 
agreements being awarded at $132,500 each. At the conclusion of the 
first 1 year period of performance and, based on the availability of 
future funding, incremental funding of up to $132,500 per cooperative 
agreement may be made available for each year, allowing the project to 
continue for a total of five periods of performance (approximately 5 
years) and with a total potential funding of up to $1,325,000 for the 
5-year period, depending on the need and the Agency's budget in 
outlying years.

DATES: Applications must be received by EPA on or before March 28, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Applications may be submitted by mail, fax, or 
electronically. Please follow the detailed instructions provided in 
Unit IV. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allie Fields, Field and External 
Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 305-7666; fax number: (703) 308-2962; e-
mail address: fields.allie@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following listing provides certain key 
information concerning the funding opportunity.
     Federal agency name: Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA).
     Funding opportunity title: Pesticides and National 
Strategies for Health Care Providers.
     Funding opportunity number: OPP-003.
     Announcement type: The initial announcement of a funding 
opportunity.
     Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: This 
program is included in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under 
number 66.607 at https://www.cfda.gov/public/whole.pdf.
     Dates: Applications must be received by EPA on or before 
March 28, 2005.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Authority

    EPA expects to enter into cooperative agreements under the 
authority provided in FIFRA section 20 which authorizes the Agency to 
issue grants or cooperative agreements for research, public education, 
training, monitoring, demonstration and studies. Regulations governing 
these cooperative agreements are found at 40 CFR part 30 for 
institutions of higher education, colleges and universities, and non-
profit organizations; and 40 CFR part 31 for States and local 
governments. In addition, the provisions in 40 CFR part 32, governing 
government wide debarment and suspension; and the provisions in 40 CFR 
part 34, regarding restrictions on lobbying apply. All costs incurred 
under this program must be allowable under the applicable OMB Cost 
Circulars: A-87 (States and local governments), A-122 (nonprofit 
organizations), or A-21 (universities). Copies of these circulars can 
be found at https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/. In accordance 
with EPA policy and the OMB circulars, as appropriate, any recipient of 
funding must agree not to use assistance funds for lobbying, fund-
raising, or political activities (e.g., lobbying members of Congress or 
lobbying for other Federal grants, cooperative agreements, or 
contracts). See 40 CFR part 34.

B. Program Description

    1. Purpose and scope. The cooperative agreements awarded under this 
program are intended to provide financial assistance for continuation 
of EPA's national initiative to improve the training of health care 
providers in recognition, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of 
pesticide poisonings among those who work with pesticides. Given that 
health professionals are educated and trained in different settings, 
EPA seeks to fund two different organizations whose work collectively 
will cover a range of activities needed to improve the recognition and 
management of pesticide-related health conditions. One organization 
will work with decision-makers and faculty at academic institutions and 
professional associations/organizations to create institutional change 
in educational settings (e.g., medical schools, nursing schools, 
residency and practicum programs) so that students in the health 
professions are prepared to recognize, manage, and prevent pesticide-
related health conditions across the United States. The other 
organization will work directly with health care providers to change 
the practice of primary care so

[[Page 6865]]

that pesticide-related health conditions are recognized, effectively 
managed, and prevented in practice settings (e.g., private practices, 
migrant clinics, community clinics, hospitals, workplace clinics).
    Under these two new cooperative agreements, projects will be 
considered that focus on the macro level, to engender changes in the 
professions, as well as those that focus on the micro level, to 
implement professional change in the field setting. Experience and 
expertise with working with professional associations and decision-
making bodies that represent and/or influence educational and practice 
settings will be critical to the success of this program for macro 
level projects. Experience in field settings will be critical to the 
success of this program for micro level projects. More importantly, the 
ability to work directly with the medical community, particularly those 
with expertise in pesticide poisoning recognition and treatment and 
occupational medicine, will be essential for implementing this program.
    2. Activities to be funded. Two cooperative agreements will be 
established: educational and practice.
    i. Educational. Educational activities will target the educational 
settings in which health care providers are educated. Key activities to 
be funded under the educational cooperative agreement are as follows:
     Organize strategic meetings with decision-makers and 
faculty at educational institutions and professional associations to 
communicate the need to incorporate pesticide education and awareness 
into educational and practice settings.
     Design and implement methods of integration of the 
pesticide education core competencies into educational and practice 
settings.
     Develop and provide access (through training, continuing 
education, website, etc.) to relevant resources and tools to teach 
occupational health and safety, with a pesticide focus, to current and 
future health care providers.
     Develop and test an education model that incorporate 
pesticide education core competencies into the curriculum.
     Evaluate and promote the use of an education model across 
a wide-range of educational settings.
    ii. Practice. Practice activities will target the practice settings 
in which a provider works and participates in professional development. 
Key activities to be funded under the practice cooperative agreement 
are as follows:
     Organize strategic meetings with primary health care 
providers, health care clinic, and other health care delivery systems 
to communicate the need to incorporate pesticide education and 
awareness into practice settings.
     Design and implement methods of integration of the key 
practice skills required for health care providers to deal effectively 
with pesticide-related health conditions in the practice settings.
     Develop and provide access (through training, continuing 
education, website, etc.) to relevant resources and tools that health 
care providers need to deal effectively with pesticide-related health 
conditions.
     Develop and test a training model for primary health care 
providers that incorporates key practice skills for recognition and 
treatment of pesticide poisonings.
     Evaluate and promote the use of a training model for 
health care providers across a wide-range of practice settings.
    This program will further Agency efforts under the Federal, 
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), (7 U.S.C. 136w) to 
reduce the risk of pesticide poisonings and injuries among agricultural 
workers, handlers of agricultural pesticides, and the public by 
providing essential training to health care providers on how to 
recognize, diagnose, treat, and prevent pesticide-related health 
conditions more effectively.
    3. Goal and objectives. The goal of these cooperative agreements is 
to continue EPA's national initiative to improve the training of health 
care providers in recognition, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of 
pesticide poisonings among those who work with pesticides. The 
objectives of these cooperative agreements are:
    i. To work with two different organizations whose work collectively 
will cover the wide spectrum of health care professionals that can 
create change in the educational and practice settings.
    ii. To incorporate pesticide education core competencies into the 
curriculum of universities and schools that educate and train health 
care providers.
    iii. To incorporate into clinical settings the key practice skills 
required for primary health care providers to deal effectively with 
pesticide-related health conditions.
    iv. To develop and test models of integration of pesticide 
education core competencies and practice skills into educational and 
practice settings that can be utilized across the United States by 
health care providers.
    4. History. The revised agricultural worker protection regulation, 
issued in 1992 and fully implemented in 1995, was designed to reduce 
pesticide exposure to agricultural workers, mitigate exposures that may 
occur, and inform agricultural employees about the hazards of 
pesticides. The regulation mandates that farmworkers and pesticide 
handlers be given pesticide safety training about the health effects of 
pesticide exposure and the need to get medical treatment for such 
effects.
    In 1996, EPA held nine public meetings to evaluate the progress of 
worker protection regulation's implementation and to hear the 
experiences of the people most affected by the regulation. As a result 
of these meetings, EPA began to focus on the need to improve the 
recognition, diagnosis, and management of adverse health effects from 
pesticide exposures on the part of all primary care providers of the 
health care community.
    In April 1998, EPA, in collaboration with several other federal 
agencies (Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, and Department of Labor), convened a workshop of experts 
to identify strategies for educating health care providers on how to 
recognize, diagnose, manage, and prevent adverse health effects from 
pesticide exposures. The expert panel included representatives from 
professional health associations; farmworker and community interest 
organizations; migrant clinician's networks; academia; and pesticide 
experts. In addition, an invited group of observers from state and 
federal agencies, health clinics, community-based programs, farmer and 
farmworker groups, and other interested organizations participated in 
question and answer sessions with the expert panel. The results from 
this workshop include the establishment of the Federal Interagency 
Planning Committee; convening of three workgroups (Education, Practice, 
and Resource Workgroups); and the update and release of the 5th edition 
of ``Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings Manual 
(1999).''
    In March 2003, the final ``Implementation Plan for the National 
Strategies for Health Care Providers: Pesticide Initiative'' was 
completed. The Implementation Plan sets out a three-prong strategy for 
improving the recognition, diagnosis, management, and prevention of 
pesticide-related health conditions by health care providers. The first 
prong addresses a provider's formal education. The second prong targets 
the practice setting in which a provider works and participates in 
professional development. The final prong articulates the resources and 
tools that providers need to deal effectively with pesticide-related 
health conditions

[[Page 6866]]

in their practice and communities. Several activities outlined in the 
Implementation Plan have already been completed, including the 
convening of a national forum of health professionals to officially 
launch the Initiative and the publication of the ``National Pesticide 
Competency Guidelines for Medical and Nursing Education and Practice.''
    On January 23, 2004, the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act 
(PRIA) amended the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 
(FIFRA). Under section 33(c)(3)(B), funding shall be used to enhance 
current scientific and regulatory activities related to worker 
protection.

II. Award Information

    The funding for the selected award projects is in the form of a 
cooperative agreement awarded under FIFRA section 20. Cooperative 
agreements will be formed with two different organizations. The total 
funding available for award in FY 2005 is expected to be approximately 
$265,000, with two cooperative agreements being awarded $132,500 each.
    1. Educational Cooperative Agreement. The total funding available 
for this award in FY 2005 represents funding set aside in FY2004 and is 
expected to be approximately $132,500. At the conclusion of the first 1 
year period of performance, incremental funding of up to $132,500 may 
be made available for each subsequent year, depending on need and the 
Agency budget in outlying years which would allow the projects to 
continue for a total of five periods of performance (approximately 5 
years) and totaling up to $662,500 for the 5-year period.
    2. Practice Cooperative Agreement. The total funding available for 
this award in FY 2005 represents funding set aside in FY2004 and is 
expected to be approximately $132,500. At the conclusion of the first 1 
year period of performance, incremental funding of up to $132,500 may 
be made available for each subsequent year, depending on need and the 
Agency budget in outlying years which would allow the projects to 
continue for a total of five periods of performance (approximately 5 
years) and totaling up to $662,500 for the 5-year period.
    Should additional funding become available for award, based on the 
Agency budget in those outlying years, the Agency may make available 
additional funds under the cooperative agreement granted based on the 
solicitation and in accordance with the final selection process, 
without further notice of competition during the first year after the 
competition award.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Threshold eligibility factors. To be eligible for consideration, 
applicants must meet all of the following criteria. Failure to meet the 
following criteria will result in the automatic disqualification for 
consideration of the proposal for funding:
    i. Be an applicant who is eligible to receive funding under this 
announcement, including states, U. S. territories or possessions, 
federally recognized Tribal governments and organizations, public and 
private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other 
public or private nonprofit institutions, and individuals. Non-profit 
organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue 
Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in section 3 of the 
Lobbying Disclosure Action of 1995 are not eligible to apply. Eligible 
applicants may include: Agricultural, environmental, health, and 
educational organizations and agencies, colleges or universities, the 
Cooperative Extension Service, other public or non-profit agencies, 
authorities, institutions, organizations; individuals or other 
qualified entities working in agricultural science, technology, 
research, training, safety, education, and communications. Applicants 
with broad reaches into the diverse interests of the agricultural 
community, including farmworkers, farmworker families, pesticide 
handlers, health providers, growers, the Cooperative Extension Service, 
state, national and international agriculture, environment, labor and 
occupational health, rural and migrant health, education agencies are 
eligible.
    ii. The proposal must address all of the qualifications in the high 
priority areas for consideration listed under Unit III.2.
    iii. The proposal must address all of the activities to be funded 
for either the educational or practice cooperative agreement. The 
activities to be funded are listed under Unit I.B.2.
    iv. The proposal must meet all format and content requirements 
contained in Unit IV.
    v. The proposal must comply with the directions for submittal 
contained in this notice.
    2. Eligibility criteria. Applicants must demonstrate ability, 
experience and/or expertise in the following high priority areas for 
consideration. Applicants will be evaluated on the following criteria:
    i. Ability and experience in working with a wide range of health 
professionals in the practice settings and at educational institutions 
and professional associations. Applicants must demonstrate the ability 
to create a variety of fora within which representatives of 
professional associations, accrediting bodies, curriculum committees, 
etc., can advance the goals of EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs' 
health care providers initiative.
    ii. Ability and experience in developing a methodological process 
for incorporating new information into an established system. 
Applicants must demonstrate the ability and experience to develop and 
implement methods for integrating the pesticide core competencies and 
key practice skills into a wide-range of educational and practice 
settings. This may include developing the necessary resources and tools 
for health professionals during training and/or practice.
    iii. Experience and expertise in developing educational materials 
and methods of delivery. Applicants must demonstrate experience and 
expertise in developing, organizing, and making accessible educational 
materials about pesticides and pesticide-related health conditions. 
This may include developing a power point or web-based course on 
pesticide education, or designing a website where resources and tools 
are available for downloading.
    iv. Ability and experience in working with pesticide experts and 
clinicians in occupational health and safety settings. Applicants must 
demonstrate the ability and experience with working with pesticide 
experts and clinicians in occupational health and safety settings to 
ensure the accuracy and practicality of educational materials 
developed.
    v. Ability and experience in conducting a needs assessment of the 
target audience. Applicants must demonstrate the ability and experience 
to conduct a needs assessment to determine the most effective ways to 
reach health care providers through educational interventions, model 
programs, and resources.
    vi. Ability to pilot test and evaluate new educational and practice 
models. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to develop, test, 
evaluate, and promote the use of an educational or training model that 
incorporates the pesticide core competencies and key practice skills 
into educational and practice settings.
    vii. Knowledge of the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) 
specifically section 33(c)(3)(B), Worker Protection.
    3. Cost sharing or matching. There are no cost share requirements 
for this project. However, matching funds are encouraged.

[[Page 6867]]

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to request proposal package. Allie Fields, Field and 
External Affairs Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (703) 305-7666; fax 
number: (703) 308-2962; e-mail address: fields.allie@epa.gov.
    2. Content and form of application submission. Proposals must be 
typewritten, in 12 point or larger print using 8.5 x 11 inch paper with 
minimum 1 inch horizontal and vertical margins. Pages must be numbered 
in order starting with the cover page and continuing through the 
appendices. One original and one electronic copy (e-mail or disk) is 
required.
    All proposals must include:
     Completed Standard Form SF 424*, Application for Federal 
Assistance. Please include organization fax number and e-mail address. 
The application forms are available on line at https://www.epa.gov/ogd/
grants/how_to_apply.htm.
     Completed Section B--Budget Categories, on page 1 of 
Standard Form SF 424A* (see allowable costs discussion below). Blank 
forms may be located at https://www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/how_to_
apply.htm.
     Detailed itemization of the amounts budgeted by individual 
Object Class Categories (see allowable costs discussion below).
     Statement regarding whether this proposal is a 
continuation of a previously funded project. If so, please provide the 
assistance number and status of the current grant/cooperative 
agreement.
    Executive Summary. The Executive Summary shall be a stand alone 
document, not to exceed one page, containing the specifics of what is 
proposed and what you expect to accomplish regarding measuring or 
movement toward achieving project goals. This summary should identify 
the measurable environmental results you expect including potential 
human health benefits.
    Table of contents. A one page table listing the different parts of 
your proposal and the page number on which each part begins.
    Proposal narrative. Includes Parts I-V as identified below (not to 
exceed 10 pages).
    Part I--Project title. Self explanatory.
    Part II--Objectives. A numbered list (1, 2, etc.) of concisely 
written project objectives, in most cases, each objective can be stated 
in a single sentence
    Part III--Justification. For each objective listed in Part II, 
discuss the potential outcome in terms of human health, environmental 
and/or pesticide risk reduction.
    Part IV--Approach and methods. Describe in detail how the program 
will be carried out. Describe how the system or approach will support 
the program goals.
    Part V--Impact assessment. Please state how you will evaluate the 
success of the program in terms of measurable results. How and with 
what measures will humans be better protected as a result of the 
program. Quantifiable risk reduction measures should be described.
    Appendices. These appendices must be included in the cooperative 
agreement proposal. Additional appendices are not permitted.
    Timetable. A timetable that includes what will be accomplished 
under each of the objectives during the project and when completion of 
each objective is anticipated.
    Major participants. List all affiliates or other organizations, 
educators, trainers, and others having a major role in the proposal. 
Provide name, organizational affiliation, or occupation and a 
description of the role each will play in the project. A brief resume 
(not to exceed two pages) should be submitted for each major project 
manager, educator, support staff, or other major participant.
    3. Submission dates and times. You may submit an application 
through the mail, by fax, or electronically. Regardless of submission 
method, all applications must be received by EPA on or before March 28, 
2005.
    4. Intergovernmental Review. All applicants should be aware that 
formal requests for assistance (i.e., SF 424 and associated 
documentation) may be subject to intergovernmental review under 
Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.'' Applicants should contact their state's single point of 
contact (SPOC) for further information. There is a list of these 
contacts at the following web site: http:/whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/
spoc.html.
    5. Funding restrictions. EPA grant funds may only be used for the 
purposes set forth in the cooperative agreement, and must be consistent 
with the statutory authority for the award. Cooperative agreement funds 
may not be used for matching funds for other Federal grants, lobbying, 
or intervention in Federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In 
addition, Federal funds may not be used to sue the Federal government 
or any other governmental entity. All costs identified in the budget 
must conform to applicable Federal Cost Principles contained in OMB 
Circular A-87; A-122; and A-21, as appropriate.
    6. Other submission requirements. As indicated above, each 
application must include the original paper copy of the submission, 
along with one electronic copy. The electronic copy of your application 
package, whether submitted separately by e-mail or on a disk, please 
ensure that the electronic copy is consolidated into a single file, and 
that you use Word Perfect WP8/9 for Windows, or Adobe PDF 4/5. If 
mailing a disk, please use a 3.5 disk that is labeled as a proposal for 
the Pesticides and National Strategies for Health Care Providers, and 
include your pertinent information. Please check your electronic 
submissions to ensure that it does not contain any computer viruses.
    Submit your application using one of the following methods:
    By mail to: Allie Fields, Office of Pesticide Programs, Mail code: 
7506C, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460.
    By fax to: Allie Fields at fax number: (703) 308-2962.
    By e-mail to: fields.allie@epa.gov.
    7. Confidential business information. Applicants should clearly 
mark information contained in their proposal which they consider 
confidential business information. EPA reserves the right to make final 
confidentially decisions in accordance with Agency regulations at 40 
CFR part 2, subpart B. If no such claim accompanies the proposal when 
it is received by EPA, it may be made available to the public by EPA 
without further notice to the applicant.

V. Application Review Information

    Applicants will be screened to ensure that they meet all 
eligibility criteria and will be disqualified if they do not meet all 
eligibility criteria. The proposals will be evaluated by an EPA Review 
Panel and selected according to the evaluation criteria listed below. 
The corresponding points next to each criterion are the weights EPA 
will use to evaluate the applications. Please note that certain 
sections are given greater weight than others. Each application will be 
ranked based on the following evaluation criteria (Total: 100 points):
    1. Technical qualifications and overall management plan. Proposals 
should provide complete information on the education, skills, training, 
and relevant experience of the project leader and/or other key 
managers. As appropriate, please cite technical qualifications and 
specific examples of

[[Page 6868]]

prior, relevant experience. The application must clearly demonstrate 
the ability and experience to work with a wide range of health 
professionals in the practice and educational settings, as outlined in 
Unit III.2. The proposal must also address the systems of 
accountability and management oversight that are in place to ensure 
projects stay on track. (Weight: 30 points)
    2. Project goals and implementation plan. Proposals should clearly 
outline measurable goals, objectives, and specific tasks that will be 
undertaken to improve the recognition, diagnosis, management, and 
prevention of pesticide-related health conditions by health care 
providers. This includes describing implementation strategies for 
incorporating new information into established systems, developing and 
providing access to educational materials, conducting a needs 
assessment, and pilot testing new educational and practice models. 
(Weight: 40 points)
    3. Clarity of the measures of success. All proposals should clearly 
state the key outputs of the proposed projects. In addition, it should 
be clearly stated how progress and success will be measured. Success of 
the project in terms of measurable environmental results should be 
described. (Weight: 20 points)
    4. Budget. A detailed budget narrative demonstrating a clear link 
between resources and project objectives must be provided. If EPA 
funding for this project will be supplemented by other sources, please 
identify them. (Weight: 10 points)
    The proposals will be reviewed and evaluated by a team of internal 
EPA Worker Protection and Pesticide Handler Certification and Training 
experts. The final funding decision will be made from a group of top 
rated proposals by the Chief of the Certification and Worker Protection 
Branch, Field and External Affairs Division, Office of Pesticide 
Programs. The Agency reserves the right to reject all proposals and 
make no awards. The procedures for dispute resolution at 40 CFR 30.63 
and 40 CFR 31.70 apply.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award notices. The Certification and Worker Protection Branch in 
OPP will mail an acknowledgment to applicants upon receipt of the 
application. Once all of the applications have been reviewed, 
evaluated, and ranked, applicants will be notified of the outcome of 
the competition. A listing of the successful proposal will be posted on 
the Certification and Worker Protection website address at the 
conclusion of the competition (go to: https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/
health/worker.htm). The website may also contain additional information 
about this announcement including information concerning deadline 
extensions or other modifications.
    2. Administrative and national policy requirements. An applicant 
whose proposal is selected for Federal funding must complete additional 
forms prior to award (see 40 CFR 30.12 and 31.10), and will be required 
to certify that they have not been debarred or suspended from 
participation in Federal assistance awards in accordance with 40 CFR 
part 32. In addition, Applicants must comply with the Intergovernmental 
Review Process. Further information regarding this requirement will be 
provided if your proposal is selected for funding.
    3. Reporting. The successful recipient will be required to submit 
quarterly and annual reports, and to submit annual financial reports. 
The specific information contained within the report will include at a 
minimum, a comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives 
established for the period. The Certification and Worker Protection 
Branch may request additional information relative to the scope of work 
in the cooperative agreement which may be useful for Agency reporting 
under the Government Performance and Results Act.

VII. Agency Contact

    Allie Fields, Field and External Affairs Division (7506C), Office 
of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(703) 305-7666; fax number: (703) 308-2962; e-mail 
address:fields.allie@epa.gov.

VIII. Other Information

A. Does this Action Apply to Me?

     This action is directed to the public in general. Assistance is 
generally available to states, U. S. territories or possessions, 
federally recognized Tribal governments and organizations, public and 
private universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, other 
public or private nonprofit institutions, and individuals. Non-profit 
organizations described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue 
Code that engage in lobbying activities as defined in section 3 of the 
Lobbying Disclosure Action of 1995 are not eligible to apply. This 
program may, however, be of particular interest to agricultural, 
environmental, health, and educational organizations and agencies, 
colleges or universities, the Cooperative Extension Service and other 
public or non-profit agencies, authorities, institutions, 
organizations, individuals or other qualified entities working in 
agricultural science, technology, research, training, safety, 
education, and communications. Those entities with broad reaches into 
the diverse interests of the agricultural community, including 
farmworkers, farmworker families, pesticide handlers, health providers, 
growers, the Cooperative Extension Service, state, national and 
international agriculture, environment, labor and occupational health, 
rural and migrant health, education agencies may be interested in 
applying. Because others may also be interested, the Agency has not 
attempted to describe all the specific entities that may be interested 
by this action. If you have any questions regarding the applicability 
of this action to a particular entity, consult the person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

B. How Can I Access Copies of this Document and Other Related 
Information?

    1. Docket. EPA has established an official public docket for this 
action under docket identification (ID) number OPP-2004-0281. The 
official public docket is the collection of materials that is available 
for public viewing at the Public Information and Records Integrity 
Branch (PIRIB), Rm. 119, Crystal Mall 2, 1801 S. Bell St., 
Arlington, VA. This docket facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The docket telephone 
number is (703) 305-5805.
    2. Electronic access. You may access this Federal Register document 
electronically through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' 
listings at https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/. An electronic version of the 
public docket is available through EPA's electronic public docket and 
comment system, EPA Dockets. You may use EPA Dockets at https://
www.epa.gov/edocket/ to access the index listing of the contents of the 
official public docket, and to access those documents in the public 
docket that are available electronically. Although not all docket 
materials may be available electronically, you may still access any of 
the publicly available docket materials through the docket facility 
identified in Unit VIII.B.1. Once in the system, select ``search,'' 
then key in the appropriate docket ID number.

IX. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General

    Grant solicitations such as this are considered rules for the 
purpose of the

[[Page 6869]]

Congressional Review Act (CRA) (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.). The CRA 
generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency 
promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy 
of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller 
General of the United States. EPA will submit a report containing this 
grant solicitation and other required information to the U.S. Senate, 
the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the 
United States prior to its publication in the Federal Register. This 
rule is not a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Grants, Pesticides, Training.


    Dated: January 31, 2005.
Susan B. Hazen,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and 
Toxic Substances.
[FR Doc. 05-2509 Filed 2-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-S