73 FR 85 pgs. 24049-24050 - Revision to the Remote Community Alert Systems Program
Type: NOTICEVolume: 73Number: 85Pages: 24049 - 24050
Docket number: [Docket Number 080328487-8488-01]
FR document: [FR Doc. E8-9616 Filed 4-30-08; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket Number 080328487-8488-01]
Revision to the Remote Community Alert Systems Program
AGENCY:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
NOAA publishes this notice to reopen the application solicitation period and to amend the application requirements for the Remote Community Alert Systems Program, which was announced in the Federal Register on February 8, 2008. The notice informs applicants that NOAA reopens the competition and establishes a new due date for applications of May 23, 2008, clarifies the submission requirements concerning an abstract page and project description, and clarifies that eligible applicants include U.S. Commonwealths and Territories. It also removes a typographical error which referenced a required "item 5" which does not exist in the text. Finally, it advises applicants that they can amend or resubmit their applications, if they so choose, by the new application deadline.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information should be directed to Craig Hodan, NOAA/NWS, 1325 East-West Highway, Room 3348, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. Phone: 301-713-9480 x 187, e-mail: craig.hodan@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
NOAA publishes this notice to make changes to the Remote Community Alert Systems Program, which was announced in the Federal Register on February 8, 2008 (73 FR 7528). This notice reopens the application solicitation period for the Remote Community Alert System Program published in the Federal Register notice cited above. The new deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on May 23, 2008. Applicants who submitted proposals may amend or resubmit their applications by the newly established date. All applications received after April 11, 2008 and by the new deadline will be considered timely and will be evaluated by the program.
Also, NOAA amends the "Eligibility" paragraph to clarify that eligible applicants include those from U.S. Commonwealths and Territories. The current language reads: "Eligible applicants are States and Tribal Communities." NOAA amends this language to read: "Eligible applicants are States (including U.S. Commonwealths and Territories) and Tribal Communities."
In addition, this notice clarifies the requirement to submit an abstract page and project description as part of the application, and removes reference to the submission of an "item 5" which does not exist in the text and was a typographical error. The Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity (NWS-NWSPO-2008-2001322) for this program requires, as part of the application, an abstract and a project description. However, section IV.B of the FFO contained misleading language that erroneously implied that these two documents were not required to be submitted by the due date: "Failure to submit items 1, 4 and 5 by the application date will result in the application not being reviewed." This notice clarifies that the abstract and project description are required to be submitted by the application due date in order for the application to be considered for funding. Therefore, the text of the third sentence of Section IV.B. is revised to read: "Failure to submit items 1 through 4 by the application date will result in the application not being reviewed." The Announcement presently explains what the abstract page and project description should contain.
Limitation of Liability
In no event will NOAA or the Department of Commerce be responsible for proposal preparation costs if this program is cancelled because of other agency priorities. Publication of this announcement does not oblige NOAA to award any specific project or to obligate any available funds. Applicants are hereby given notice that funding for the Fiscal Year 2008 program is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations.
Universal Identifier
Applicants should be aware they are required to provide a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number during the application process. See the October 30, 2002, Federal Register , (67, FR 66177) for additional information. Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or via the Internet at http://www.dunandbradstreet.com.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NOAA must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for applicant projects or proposals which are seeking NOAA federal funding opportunities. Detailed information on NOAA compliance with NEPA can be found at the following NOAA NEPA Web site: http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/, including our NOAA Administrative Order 216-6 for NEPA, http://www.nepa.noaa.gov/NAO216_6_TOC.pdf , and the Council on Environmental Quality implementation regulations, http://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/ceq/toc_ceq.htm . Consequently, as part of an applicant's package, and under their description of their program activities, applicants are required to provide detailed information on the activities to be conducted, locations, sites, species and habitat to be affected, possible construction activities, and any environmental concerns that may exist (e.g., the use and disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals, introduction of non-indigenous species, impacts to endangered and threatened species, aquaculture projects, and impacts to coral reef systems). In addition to providing specific information that will serve as the basis for any required impact analyses, applicants may also be requested to assist NOAA in drafting of an environmental assessment, if NOAA determines an assessment is required. Applicants will also be required to cooperate with NOAA in identifying feasible measures to reduce or avoid any identified adverse environmental impacts of their proposal. The failure to do so shall be grounds for not selecting an application. In some cases if additional information is required after an application is selected, funds can be withheld by the Grants Officer under a special award condition requiring the recipient to submit additional environmental compliance information sufficient to enable NOAA to make an assessment on any impacts that a project may have on the environment.
The Department of Commerce Preaward Notification Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), are applicable to this solicitation.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This document contains collection-of-information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The requirement for an abstract and project description fall under the approval for Standard Form 424. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, SF-LLL, and CD-346 has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the respective control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, and 0605-0001. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the PRA unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Executive Order 12866
This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.
Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)
It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 13132.
Administrative Procedure Act/ Regulatory Flexibility Act
Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq. ) are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not been prepared.
Dated: April 28, 2008.
David Murray,
Director, Management and Organization Division, NWS CFO.
[FR Doc. E8-9616 Filed 4-30-08; 8:45 am]
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