State Innovation Grant Program, Preliminary Notice on the Development of a Solicitation for Proposals for 2006 Awards, 68443-68445 [05-22379]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 217 / Thursday, November 10, 2005 / Notices ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [ER–FRL–6669–02] Environmental Impacts Statements; Notice Of Availability Responsible Agency: Office of Federal Activities, General Information (202) 564–7167 or https://www.epa.gov/ compliance/nepa/. Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact Statements Filed 10/31/2005 Through 11/04/2005 Pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.9. EIS No. 20050457, Final EIS, IBR, CA, Lake Berryessa Visitor Services Plans, Future Use and Operation, Solano Project Lake Berryessa, Napa County, CA, Wait Period Ends: 12/09/2005, Contact: Peter Lucero 707–966–2111 Ext 106. EIS No. 20050458, Final EIS, AFS, SD, Deerfield Project Area, Proposes to Implement Multiple Resource Management Actions, Mystic Ranger District, Black Hills National Forest, Pennington County, SD, Wait Period Ends: 12/09/2005, Contact: Robert Thompson 605–343–1567. EIS No. 20050459, Draft EIS, BLM, 00, Programmatic—Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on Bureau of Land Management Public Lands in 17 Westerns, including Alaska, Comment Period Ends: 01/09/ 2006, Contact: Brian Amme 775–861– 6645. EIS No. 20050460, Draft Supplement, USN, 00, Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) Sonar Systems, Updated and Additional Information, Implementation, Comment Period Ends: 12/27/2005, Contact: J.S. Johnson 703–465–8404. EIS No. 20050461, Final EIS, AFS, WY, Bighorn National Forest Revised Land and Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Big Horn Mountain Range, Bighorn National Forest, Johnson, Sheridan, Bighorn, and Washakie Counties, WY, Wait Period Ends: 12/09/2005, Contact: Bernie Bornong 307–674–2685. EIS No. 20050462, Draft EIS, IBR, CA, South Delta Improvements Program, To Improve Water Quality, Water Conveyance, and Fish Habitat Conditions, Central Valley Project, U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, South Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, Several Counties, CA, Comment Period Ends: 02/07/2006, Contact: Sharon McHale 916–978–5086. EIS No. 20050463, Final EIS, BLM, NV, North Valleys Rights-of-Way Projects, Proposed Construction and Operation VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:02 Nov 09, 2005 Jkt 208001 of Water Transmission Pipelines, Washoe County, NV, Wait Period Ends: 12/09/2005, Contact: Terri Knutson 775–885–6156. EIS No. 20050464, Final EIS, AFS, 00, Quachita National Forest, Proposed Revised Land Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Several Counties, AR; and LeFlore and McCurtain Counties, OK, Wait Period Ends: 12/09/2005, Contact: Bill Pell 501–321–5320. EIS No. 20050465, Final Supplement, FHW, UT, Legacy Parkway Project, Construction from 1–215 at 2100 North in Salt Lake City to 1–15 and US–89 near Farmington, Updated Information, Funding and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Salt Lake and Davis Counties, UT, Wait Period Ends: 12/09/2005, Contact: Gregory Punske, P.E. 801–963–0182. EIS No. 20050466, Final EIS, COE, NJ, Liberty State Park Ecosystem Restoration Project, Hudson Raritan Estuary Study, To Address the Adverse Impacts Associated with Past Filling Activities, Port Authority of New and New Jersey City, Hudson County, NJ, Wait Period Ends: 12/09/ 2005, Contact: Mark Matusiak 202– 761–5909. EIS No. 20050467, Final EIS, COE, NY, Montuak Point Storm Damage Reduction Project, Proposed Reinforcement of an Existing Stone Revetment Wall, Suffolk County, NY, Wait Period Ends: 12/09/2005, Contact: Lee Ware 202–761–4242. EIS No. 20050468, Draft EIS, EPA, CA, Regional Non-Potable Water Distribution System Project, Funding, US Army COE Section 404 Permit, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, CA, Comment Period Ends: 12/28/2005, Contact: Elizabeth Borowiec 415–972–3419. EIS No. 20050469, Draft EIS, NOA, 00, PROGRAMMATIC—Towards an Ecosystem Approach for the Western Pacific Region: From Species Based Fishery Management Plans to PlaceBased Fishery Ecosystem Plans, Realignment, Implementation, Western Pacific Region (America Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), and US Pacific Remote Island Areas, Comment Period Ends: 12/26/2005, Contact: William L. Robinson 808–944–2200. This document is available on the Internet at: https://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/ pir. EIS No. 20050470, Final EIS, NPS, AZ, Colorado River Management Plan, Analyzing Alternatives for Management of Recreational Use of the Colorado River, Grand Canyon PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 68443 National Park, Coconino County, AZ, Wait Period Ends: 12/09/2005, Contact: Rick Ernenwein 928–779– 6279. Amended Notices EIS No. 20050397, Draft EIS, BIA, ID, Programmatic—Coeur d’ Alene Tribe Integrated Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Coeur d’ Alene Reservation and Aboriginal Territory, ID, Comment Period Ends: 12/14/ 2005, Contact: Tiffany Allgood 208– 686–8802. Revision of Federal Register Notice Published on 09/30/2005: Comment Period Extended from 11/14/2005 to 12/ 14/2005. EIS No. 20050454, Draft EIS, FRC, 00, Cove Point Expansion Project, Construction and Operation of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Import Terminal Expansion and Natural Gas Pipeline Facilities, US. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Docket Nos. CPO5–130–000, CP05–131–000 and CP05–132–00, PA, VA, WV, NY and MD, Comment Period Ends: 12/21/ 2005, Contact: Thomas Russo 1–866– 208–3372. Revision of Federal Register Notice Published 11/04/2005: Correction to Document Status from Final to Draft EIS. Dated: November 7, 2005. Robert W. Hargrove, Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities. [FR Doc. 05–22467 Filed 11–9–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–7994–8] State Innovation Grant Program, Preliminary Notice on the Development of a Solicitation for Proposals for 2006 Awards Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (OPEI) is giving preliminary notice of its intention to solicit proposals for a 2006 grant program to support innovation by state environmental regulatory agencies—the ‘‘State Innovation Grant Program.’’ In addition, EPA is asking each State Environmental Regulatory Agency to designate a point of contact at the management level (in addition to the Commissioner or Cabinet Secretary E:\FR\FM\10NON1.SGM 10NON1 68444 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 217 / Thursday, November 10, 2005 / Notices level) who will be the point of contact for further communication about the upcoming solicitation. If your point of contact from previous State Innovation Grant solicitations is to be your contact for this year’s competition, there is no need to send that information again, as all previously designated points of contact will remain on our notification list for this year’s competition. EPA anticipates publication of a Federal Register notice to announce the availability of the next solicitation approximately three weeks after publication of this announcement. DATES: State Environmental Regulatory Agencies will have 14 days from the date of this pre-announcement notice in the Federal Register publication until November 25, 2005 to respond with point of contact information for the person within the State Environmental Regulatory Agency (in addition to Commissioner or Cabinet Secretaries) who will be designated to receive future notices about the State Innovation Grants. We will automatically transmit notice of availability of the solicitation to people in State agencies identified for previous solicitations. ADDRESSES: Information should be sent to: State Innovation Grant Program; Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1807T); 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Responses may also be sent by fax to (202) 566–2220, addressed to the ‘‘State Innovation Grant Program,’’ or by e-mail to: Innovation_State_ Grants@EPA.gov. We encourage e-mail responses. If you have questions about responding to this notice, please contact EPA at this e-mail address or fax number, or you may call Sherri Walker at 202–566–2186. For point of contact information, please provide: name, title, department and agency, street or Post Office address, city, State, zip code, telephone, fax, and e-mail address. EPA will acknowledge all responses it receives to this notice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: In April 2002, EPA issued its plan for future innovation efforts, published as Innovating for Better Environmental Results: A Strategy to Guide the Next Generation of Innovation at EPA (EPA 100–R–02–002; https://www.epa.gov/innovation/ strategy/). The Agency’s Innovation Strategy presents a framework for environmental innovation consisting of four major elements: (1) Strengthen EPA’s innovation partnerships with States; (2) Focus on priority environmental issues: VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:02 Nov 09, 2005 Jkt 208001 (3) Diversify environmental protection tools and approaches: (4) Foster a more ‘‘innovationfriendly’’ organizational culture and systems. This assistance program strengthens EPA’s partnership with the States by supporting innovation compatible with the Innovation Strategy. EPA would like to help States build on previous experience and undertake strategic innovation projects that promote largerscale models for ‘‘next generation’’ environmental protection and promise better environmental results. EPA is interested in funding projects that go beyond a single facility experiment to promote change that is ‘‘systemsoriented’’ and provides better results from a program, process, or sector-wide innovation. EPA is particularly interested in innovation that promotes integrated (cross-media) environmental management with high potential for transfer to other States. In 2002, EPA initiated the State Innovation Grant Program with a competition that asked for State project proposals that would create innovation in environmental permitting programs related to one of the Innovation Strategy’s four priority environmental issues: Reducing greenhouse gases, reducing smog, improving water quality, and ensuring the long-term integrity of the nations’s water infrastructure. In addition, the solicitation encouraged projects that test incentives that motivate ‘‘beyond-compliance’’ environmental performance, or move whole sectors toward improved environmental performance through models such as Environmental Results Programs, Environmental Management Systems and the National Environmental Performance Track Program. Fifteen total awards to States have been made from the three prior competitions. Awards from the 2002 solicitation competition totaled $618,000. Awards from the 2003–2004 competition were approximately $1.6 million dollars. EPA is currently completing awards to seven States selected in the 2005 competition. Of those projects that have been awarded, including those with pending awards: 11 are for development of Environmental Results Programs, 7 relate to Environmental Management Systems and permitting, 2 are to enhance Performance-Based Environmental Leadership programs, 2 are for Watershed-based permitting, and 1 is Information Technology. For more information on last year’s solicitation, the proposals received, and the award decisions, please see the Web site at: PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 https://www.epa.gov/innovation/ stategrants. Proposed General Topic Areas for Solicitation: Because the Agency has limited funding for the Program, NCEI wants to maximize the strategic impact of these projects. Our intention, therefore is to retain ‘‘innovation in permitting’’ as the general subject area of the upcoming solicitation with special attention toward the three specific topics under that theme from last year: (1) Projects that support the development of state Environmental Results Programs (ERP); (2) projects which explore the relationship between Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and permitting (see EPA’s Strategy for Determining the Role of EMS in Regulatory Programs at https:// www.epa.gov/ems or https:// www.epa.gov/ems/docs/EMS_and_the_ Reg_Structure_41204F.pdf); (3) projects that support state performance-based programs or state support for implementation of Performance Track particularly with regard to development and implementation of incentives. EPA’s focus on a small number of topics within this general subject area effectively concentrates the limited resources available for greater strategic impact. Project selections and awards will be subject to funding availability for each topic area. In addition, EPA may contemplate a very limited number of projects otherwise related to the theme of permitting, in particular as they may address EPA Regional and State environmental permitting priorities. As in previous rounds of this competition, the 2006 State Innovation Grant Program competition will seek to strengthen EPA’s innovation partnership with States by providing a source of funding to facilitate State efforts to test new models for ‘‘next generation’’ environmental protection that will provide better environmental results, consistent with the goals of EPA’s Innovation Strategy. This grant program emphasizes interest in funding projects that go beyond a single facility experiment to promote change that is ‘‘systemsoriented’’ and provides better results from a program, process, or sector-wide innovation. Another key goal for this grant program is practical transferability of innovation that enables or supports other States to motivate their designated or geographical priority facility(ies) of choice to provide ‘‘beyond compliance’’ environmental performance, or to move whole sectors toward improved environmental performance. E:\FR\FM\10NON1.SGM 10NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 217 / Thursday, November 10, 2005 / Notices Note: These grants will not be applied to the development or demonstration of new environmental technologies, nor will NCEI fund projects that propose development or upgrading of information technology systems for anything other than a very minor component of the project. Projects will be much less likely to be funded through the State Innovation Grant Program if agency resources are already available through another agency program. Competition Limited to the State Environmental Regulatory Agency: The competition will be limited to the principal Environmental Regulatory Agency within each State, although these agencies are encouraged to partner with other agencies within the State that have environmental mandates (e.g., natural resources management, transportation, public health, energy). EPA will accept only one proposal from an individual State and it must be submitted by the principal Environmental Regulatory Agency from that State. States are also encouraged to partner with other States and Tribes to address cross-boundary issues, and to create networks for peer-mentoring. A multi-state or State-Tribal proposal will be accepted in addition to an individual State proposal, but a State may appear in no more than one multi-State or State-Tribal proposal in addition to its individual proposal. EPA regrets that because of the limitations in available funding it is not yet able to open this competition to Native American Tribal environmental agencies but we strongly encourage Tribal agencies to join with adjacent States in project proposals. Request for Designation of a Primary Point of Contact: EPA asks that each State Environmental Regulatory Agency designate as a primary point-of-contact, a manager who we will add to the EPA notification list for further announcements about the State Innovation Grant Program. If your point of contact from previous State Innovation Grant solicitations is to be your contact for this year’s competition, there is no need to send that information again, as all previously designated points of contact will remain on our notification list for this year’s competition. We are asking that this name be submitted with the approval of the highest levels of management within an Agency (Secretary, Commissioner, or their deputies) within 14 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register November 25, 2005. Please submit this information to EPA by mail, fax or e-mail in the following manner. By mail to: State Innovation Grant Program, Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1807T), 1200 VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:02 Nov 09, 2005 Jkt 208001 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. By fax to: ‘‘State Innovation Grant Program’’, 202–566–2220. By e-mail to: Innovation_State_Grants@EPA.gov. We encourage e-mail responses. If you have questions about responding to this notice, please contact EPA at this e-mail address or fax number, or you may call Sherri Walker at 202–566–2186. For point of contact information, please provide: name, title, department and agency, street or Post Office address, city, State, zip code, telephone, fax, and e-mail address. EPA will acknowledge all responses it receives to this notice. Opportunity for Dialogue: Between now and the initiation of the competition with the release of the solicitation, States are encouraged to discuss potential projects with their EPA Regional contact to ascertain whether the scope of a potential project is suitable for funding under this program. Unlike last year, we will not be hosting a series of pre-competition workshops for all States and Regions. Questions that come to us during this period, as well as our responses, along with helpful resource materials will be posted on the State Innovation Grant Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ innovation/stategrants. The Regional contacts and the EPA HQ National Center for Environmental Innovation are as follows: Regional Contacts George Frantz U.S. EPA Region I 1 Congress Street, Suite 1100 Boston, MA 02114–2023 (617) 918–1883 frantz.george@epa.gov States: ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI Grace Smith U.S. EPA Region 2 290 Broadway, 26th Floor New York, NY 10007–1866 (212) 637–3589 smith.grace@epa.gov States & Territories: NY, NJ, PR, VI Marie Holman U.S. EPA Region 3 1650 Arch Street (3EA40) Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 814–5463 holman.marie@epa.gov States: DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV Melissa Heath U.S. EPA Region 4 61 Forsyth Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 562–8381 heath.melissa@epa.gov States: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN Marilou Martin U.S. EPA Region 5, B–19J PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 68445 77 West Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604–3507 (312) 353–9660 martin.marilou@epa.gov States: MN, WI, MI, IL, IN, OH David Bond U.S. EPA Region 6 Fountain Place, Suite 1200 1445 Ross Avenue Dallas, TX 75202–2733 (214) 665–6431 bond.david@epa.gov States: AR, LA, NM, OK, TX Chrissy Wolfersberger U.S. EPA Region 7 901 N. 5th Street Kansas City, KS 66101 (913) 551–7864 wolfersberger.chris@epa.gov States: KS, MO, NE, IA Whitney Trulove-Cranor U.S. EPA Region 8 (8P–SA) 999 18th Street, Suite 300 Denver, CO 80202–2466 (303) 312–6099 trulove-cranor.whitney@epa.gov States: CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY Loretta Barsamian U.S. EPA Region 9 75 Hawthorne Street (SPE–1) San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 947–4268 barsamian.loretta@epa.gov States & Territories: CA, NV, AZ, HI, AS, GU Bill Glasser U.S. EPA Region 10 1200 Sixth Avenue (ENF–T) Seattle, WA 09101 206–553–7215 glasser.william@epa.gov States: AK, ID, OR, WA Headquarters Office: Sherri Walker State Innovation Grants Program National Center for Environmental Innovation Office of the Administrator U.S. EPA (MC 1807T) 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. Washington, DC 20460 (202) 566–2186 (202) 566–2220 fax Innovation_State_Grants@epa.gov. For courier delivery only: Sherri Walker U.S. EPA EPA West Building, room 4214D 1301 Constitution Ave., NW. Washington, DC 20005 Dated: November 2, 2005. Elizabeth Shaw, Director, Office of Environmental Policy Innovation. [FR Doc. 05–22379 Filed 11–9–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P E:\FR\FM\10NON1.SGM 10NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 217 (Thursday, November 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68443-68445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22379]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7994-8]


State Innovation Grant Program, Preliminary Notice on the 
Development of a Solicitation for Proposals for 2006 Awards

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Policy, 
Economics and Innovation (OPEI) is giving preliminary notice of its 
intention to solicit proposals for a 2006 grant program to support 
innovation by state environmental regulatory agencies--the ``State 
Innovation Grant Program.'' In addition, EPA is asking each State 
Environmental Regulatory Agency to designate a point of contact at the 
management level (in addition to the Commissioner or Cabinet Secretary

[[Page 68444]]

level) who will be the point of contact for further communication about 
the upcoming solicitation. If your point of contact from previous State 
Innovation Grant solicitations is to be your contact for this year's 
competition, there is no need to send that information again, as all 
previously designated points of contact will remain on our notification 
list for this year's competition. EPA anticipates publication of a 
Federal Register notice to announce the availability of the next 
solicitation approximately three weeks after publication of this 
announcement.

DATES: State Environmental Regulatory Agencies will have 14 days from 
the date of this pre-announcement notice in the Federal Register 
publication until November 25, 2005 to respond with point of contact 
information for the person within the State Environmental Regulatory 
Agency (in addition to Commissioner or Cabinet Secretaries) who will be 
designated to receive future notices about the State Innovation Grants. 
We will automatically transmit notice of availability of the 
solicitation to people in State agencies identified for previous 
solicitations.

ADDRESSES: Information should be sent to: State Innovation Grant 
Program; Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation; U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (1807T); 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 
20460. Responses may also be sent by fax to (202) 566-2220, addressed 
to the ``State Innovation Grant Program,'' or by e-mail to: 
Innovation--State-- Grants@EPA.gov. We encourage e-mail responses. If 
you have questions about responding to this notice, please contact EPA 
at this e-mail address or fax number, or you may call Sherri Walker at 
202-566-2186. For point of contact information, please provide: name, 
title, department and agency, street or Post Office address, city, 
State, zip code, telephone, fax, and e-mail address. EPA will 
acknowledge all responses it receives to this notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: In April 2002, EPA issued its 
plan for future innovation efforts, published as Innovating for Better 
Environmental Results: A Strategy to Guide the Next Generation of 
Innovation at EPA (EPA 100-R-02-002; https://www.epa.gov/ innovation/
strategy/). The Agency's Innovation Strategy presents a framework for 
environmental innovation consisting of four major elements:
    (1) Strengthen EPA's innovation partnerships with States;
    (2) Focus on priority environmental issues:
    (3) Diversify environmental protection tools and approaches:
    (4) Foster a more ``innovation-friendly'' organizational culture 
and systems.
    This assistance program strengthens EPA's partnership with the 
States by supporting innovation compatible with the Innovation 
Strategy. EPA would like to help States build on previous experience 
and undertake strategic innovation projects that promote larger-scale 
models for ``next generation'' environmental protection and promise 
better environmental results. EPA is interested in funding projects 
that go beyond a single facility experiment to promote change that is 
``systems-oriented'' and provides better results from a program, 
process, or sector-wide innovation. EPA is particularly interested in 
innovation that promotes integrated (cross-media) environmental 
management with high potential for transfer to other States.
    In 2002, EPA initiated the State Innovation Grant Program with a 
competition that asked for State project proposals that would create 
innovation in environmental permitting programs related to one of the 
Innovation Strategy's four priority environmental issues: Reducing 
greenhouse gases, reducing smog, improving water quality, and ensuring 
the long-term integrity of the nations's water infrastructure. In 
addition, the solicitation encouraged projects that test incentives 
that motivate ``beyond-compliance'' environmental performance, or move 
whole sectors toward improved environmental performance through models 
such as Environmental Results Programs, Environmental Management 
Systems and the National Environmental Performance Track Program. 
Fifteen total awards to States have been made from the three prior 
competitions. Awards from the 2002 solicitation competition totaled 
$618,000. Awards from the 2003-2004 competition were approximately $1.6 
million dollars. EPA is currently completing awards to seven States 
selected in the 2005 competition. Of those projects that have been 
awarded, including those with pending awards: 11 are for development of 
Environmental Results Programs, 7 relate to Environmental Management 
Systems and permitting, 2 are to enhance Performance-Based 
Environmental Leadership programs, 2 are for Watershed-based 
permitting, and 1 is Information Technology. For more information on 
last year's solicitation, the proposals received, and the award 
decisions, please see the Web site at: https://www.epa.gov/innovation/
stategrants.
    Proposed General Topic Areas for Solicitation: Because the Agency 
has limited funding for the Program, NCEI wants to maximize the 
strategic impact of these projects. Our intention, therefore is to 
retain ``innovation in permitting'' as the general subject area of the 
upcoming solicitation with special attention toward the three specific 
topics under that theme from last year: (1) Projects that support the 
development of state Environmental Results Programs (ERP); (2) projects 
which explore the relationship between Environmental Management Systems 
(EMS) and permitting (see EPA's Strategy for Determining the Role of 
EMS in Regulatory Programs at https://www.epa.gov/ems or https://
www.epa.gov/ems/docs/EMS_and_the_Reg_Structure_41204F.pdf); (3) 
projects that support state performance-based programs or state support 
for implementation of Performance Track particularly with regard to 
development and implementation of incentives. EPA's focus on a small 
number of topics within this general subject area effectively 
concentrates the limited resources available for greater strategic 
impact. Project selections and awards will be subject to funding 
availability for each topic area. In addition, EPA may contemplate a 
very limited number of projects otherwise related to the theme of 
permitting, in particular as they may address EPA Regional and State 
environmental permitting priorities.
    As in previous rounds of this competition, the 2006 State 
Innovation Grant Program competition will seek to strengthen EPA's 
innovation partnership with States by providing a source of funding to 
facilitate State efforts to test new models for ``next generation'' 
environmental protection that will provide better environmental 
results, consistent with the goals of EPA's Innovation Strategy.
    This grant program emphasizes interest in funding projects that go 
beyond a single facility experiment to promote change that is 
``systems-oriented'' and provides better results from a program, 
process, or sector-wide innovation. Another key goal for this grant 
program is practical transferability of innovation that enables or 
supports other States to motivate their designated or geographical 
priority facility(ies) of choice to provide ``beyond compliance'' 
environmental performance, or to move whole sectors toward improved 
environmental performance.


[[Page 68445]]


    Note: These grants will not be applied to the development or 
demonstration of new environmental technologies, nor will NCEI fund 
projects that propose development or upgrading of information 
technology systems for anything other than a very minor component of 
the project. Projects will be much less likely to be funded through 
the State Innovation Grant Program if agency resources are already 
available through another agency program.

    Competition Limited to the State Environmental Regulatory Agency: 
The competition will be limited to the principal Environmental 
Regulatory Agency within each State, although these agencies are 
encouraged to partner with other agencies within the State that have 
environmental mandates (e.g., natural resources management, 
transportation, public health, energy). EPA will accept only one 
proposal from an individual State and it must be submitted by the 
principal Environmental Regulatory Agency from that State. States are 
also encouraged to partner with other States and Tribes to address 
cross-boundary issues, and to create networks for peer-mentoring. A 
multi-state or State-Tribal proposal will be accepted in addition to an 
individual State proposal, but a State may appear in no more than one 
multi-State or State-Tribal proposal in addition to its individual 
proposal. EPA regrets that because of the limitations in available 
funding it is not yet able to open this competition to Native American 
Tribal environmental agencies but we strongly encourage Tribal agencies 
to join with adjacent States in project proposals.
    Request for Designation of a Primary Point of Contact: EPA asks 
that each State Environmental Regulatory Agency designate as a primary 
point-of-contact, a manager who we will add to the EPA notification 
list for further announcements about the State Innovation Grant 
Program. If your point of contact from previous State Innovation Grant 
solicitations is to be your contact for this year's competition, there 
is no need to send that information again, as all previously designated 
points of contact will remain on our notification list for this year's 
competition. We are asking that this name be submitted with the 
approval of the highest levels of management within an Agency 
(Secretary, Commissioner, or their deputies) within 14 days after 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register November 25, 2005. 
Please submit this information to EPA by mail, fax or e-mail in the 
following manner.
    By mail to: State Innovation Grant Program, Office of Policy, 
Economics and Innovation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1807T), 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    By fax to: ``State Innovation Grant Program'', 202-566-2220.
    By e-mail to: Innovation--State--Grants@EPA.gov.
    We encourage e-mail responses. If you have questions about 
responding to this notice, please contact EPA at this e-mail address or 
fax number, or you may call Sherri Walker at 202-566-2186. For point of 
contact information, please provide: name, title, department and 
agency, street or Post Office address, city, State, zip code, 
telephone, fax, and e-mail address. EPA will acknowledge all responses 
it receives to this notice.
    Opportunity for Dialogue: Between now and the initiation of the 
competition with the release of the solicitation, States are encouraged 
to discuss potential projects with their EPA Regional contact to 
ascertain whether the scope of a potential project is suitable for 
funding under this program. Unlike last year, we will not be hosting a 
series of pre-competition workshops for all States and Regions. 
Questions that come to us during this period, as well as our responses, 
along with helpful resource materials will be posted on the State 
Innovation Grant Web site at https://www.epa.gov/innovation/stategrants. 
The Regional contacts and the EPA HQ National Center for Environmental 
Innovation are as follows:
Regional Contacts

George Frantz
U.S. EPA Region I
1 Congress Street, Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114-2023
(617) 918-1883
frantz.george@epa.gov
States: ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI

Grace Smith
U.S. EPA Region 2
290 Broadway, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10007-1866
(212) 637-3589
smith.grace@epa.gov
States & Territories: NY, NJ, PR, VI

Marie Holman
U.S. EPA Region 3
1650 Arch Street (3EA40)
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 814-5463
holman.marie@epa.gov
States: DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV

Melissa Heath
U.S. EPA Region 4
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 562-8381
heath.melissa@epa.gov
States: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN

Marilou Martin
U.S. EPA Region 5, B-19J
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3507
(312) 353-9660
martin.marilou@epa.gov
States: MN, WI, MI, IL, IN, OH

David Bond
U.S. EPA Region 6
Fountain Place, Suite 1200
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX 75202-2733
(214) 665-6431
bond.david@epa.gov
States: AR, LA, NM, OK, TX

Chrissy Wolfersberger
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 551-7864
wolfersberger.chris@epa.gov
States: KS, MO, NE, IA

Whitney Trulove-Cranor
U.S. EPA Region 8 (8P-SA)
999 18th Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202-2466
(303) 312-6099
trulove-cranor.whitney@epa.gov
States: CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY

Loretta Barsamian
U.S. EPA Region 9
75 Hawthorne Street (SPE-1)
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 947-4268
barsamian.loretta@epa.gov
States & Territories: CA, NV, AZ, HI, AS, GU

Bill Glasser
U.S. EPA Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue (ENF-T)
Seattle, WA 09101
206-553-7215
glasser.william@epa.gov
States: AK, ID, OR, WA

Headquarters Office:

Sherri Walker
State Innovation Grants Program
National Center for Environmental Innovation
Office of the Administrator
U.S. EPA (MC 1807T)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.
Washington, DC 20460

(202) 566-2186
(202) 566-2220 fax
Innovation--State--Grants@epa.gov.

For courier delivery only:
Sherri Walker
U.S. EPA
EPA West Building, room 4214D 1301 Constitution Ave., NW.
Washington, DC 20005

    Dated: November 2, 2005.
Elizabeth Shaw,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy Innovation.
[FR Doc. 05-22379 Filed 11-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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