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$2.7 Million Available to Local Communities to Reduce Toxic Exposure

Release Date: 02/12/2007
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543, smith.bonnie@epa.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has $2.7 million to support community-based partnerships for reducing risks from toxics.

EPA will award the funds to cooperative agreements through its Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program.

Level I cooperative agreements will help establish community-based partnerships and set priorities for reducing risks from toxics in a community. Past projects include addressing water quality in Puget Sound, helping to rebuild St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana, helping the Cherokee Nation deal with toxic waste, and reducing air toxics in Tucson. EPA anticipates awarding eight to 10 cooperative Level I agreement nationwide, ranging from $75,000 to $100,000.

Level II cooperative agreements are for communities that already have undertaken a comprehensive process to assess toxic risks, formed a broad-based collaborative, have identified risk reduction priorities and are ready to implement risk reduction strategies. EPA expects to award six to eight cooperative agreements nationally, ranging from $150,000 to $300,000.

County and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations and universities can apply for funding. EPA will conduct conference calls on Feb. 20 and 26 and March 1, for prospective applicants to ask questions about the application process. Applications are due April 9, 2007.

The CARE program, which began in 2005, helps to build broad-based local partnerships for reducing risks from toxic pollutants.

For additional information about the 2007 cooperative agreements, projects awarded in 2005 and 2006, and how to apply see: https://www.epa.gov/care/agreements.htm. Additional information about the CARE program: https://www.epa.gov/care/.