EJ Grantmaking Program: Applications for Subawards September Launch (Emergency)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Emergency ICR Form and Instruction	New
EPA Grantmaking Program Emergency ICR 2 Justification Memo_signed.pdf Supplementary Document	2024-08-27
7787ssa01.docx Supporting Statement A	2024-08-27

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
270435	Emergency ICR Form and Instruction	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No:	ICR Reference No: 202408-2090-002
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: EPA/AdmO	Agency Tracking No: 7787.01
Title: EJ Grantmaking Program: Applications for Subawards September Launch (Emergency)
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 09/16/2024
Date Submitted to OIRA: 08/28/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	6 Months From Approved
Responses	1,155	0
Time Burden (Hours)	23,975	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	43,989	0

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Abstract: To meet the goals and objectives that demonstrate the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPAs) and the Administrations commitment to achieving environmental justice and embedding environmental justice into Agency programs, EPA released the Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program funding opportunity. The program will provide about $600 million in 11 cooperative agreements funding to Grantmakers who will function as pass-through entities for the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Subgrants (2 CFR Parts 200 and 1500). The pass-through model removes the requirement of applying through the federal grants process and decreases the amount of time it takes to award federal funds. The Grantmakers will collaborate with EPA to design and build their own processes to receive and evaluate applications to fund the initial development of community-led environmental justice projects. With this Information Collection Request (ICR), EPA seeks emergency clearance for three Grantmakers to solicit applications for their first round of subgrants to be launched in September 2024. If the information requested under this emergency clearance were not collected, EPA would have no mechanism for selecting and distributing subaward grants. Without this activity, the central programmatic objectives of the Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program cannot be met. The six-month emergency clearance period will cover the first round of subaward applications that will be solicited by three Grantmakers in September 2024. Subsequent rounds of applications for these three Grantmakers will be authorized via a Standard ICR package for the Grantmaking Program that will be submitted for review via the standard ICR approval process.

Emergency Justfication: EPA is requesting Emergency clearance for Grantmakers to launch their subaward programs and publish a call for the first round of applications, because it is essential that this initial work take place as early as possible in the award period. Under this program, Philanthropy Northwest and the other Grantmakers need to engage in multiple subaward processes, not just one, before the end of the 3-year performance period. This is because the small and capacity-constrained entities that will apply for these awards will typically be first-time grantees who cannot absorb funds quickly, because they need time and technical assistance, etc. The process has to be slow and steady, rather than a single plug of funding. These sub-awardees are organizations that likely have never received a federal grant before. Therefore, we need to do at least 2, preferably 3, subaward processes. EPAs experience with the Environmental Justice Community Change Grant Programs technical assistance is that most communities need a tremendous amount of time and support to develop project ideas and budgets.

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Authorizing Statute(s): EO: EO 13985 Name/Subject of EO: Advancing Racial Equity And Support For Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government
   EO: EO 14008 Name/Subject of EO: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad
   US Code: 2 USC 200 Name of Law: Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Rewards
   US Code: 2 USC 1500 Name of Law: Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Rewards
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Emergency ICR	n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a, n/a	Grantmaker C_Application for Competitive Award ,   Grantmaker C_Application for Noncompetitive Awards. ,   Grantmaker D_Application for Competitive Awards ,   Grantmaker E_Application for Competitive Awards ,   Grantmaker E_Application for Noncompetitive Awards

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	1,155	0	0	1,155	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	23,975	0	0	23,975	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	43,989	0	0	43,989	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 08/28/2024

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