View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package

OMB Control No: 2090-0036	ICR Reference No: 202408-2090-002
Status: Historical Active	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
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 09/27/2024
	Date Received in OIRA: 08/28/2024
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.13, this information collection request is being approved. As reminder, EPA is required to include the following information in its submission for information collection request review and approval: (1) supporting statements to show compliance with requirements and other associated laws; (2) a description of the regulatory text applicable to the ICR including submission specifications; (3) a clear description of the data elements being collected under the ICR; (4) copies of the data collection instrument and/or screen shots of the electronic portal where the reporting requirements are submitted to EPA (with the control number and burden statement included); (5) a detailed discussion of how information is submitted and the extent to which electronic reporting is available; (6) evidence of consultation with respondents (by actively reaching out to stakeholders as permitted by the PRA) to ensure the supporting statement's accuracy on availability of data, frequency of collection, clarity of instructions, accuracy of burden estimate, relevance of data elements, and similar PRA matters; and (7) discussion of how EPA addressed substantive concerns raised by respondents and other stakeholders during consultation and in response to comments received on FR notices. In addition, supporting statement A should use the standard 18 question SS-A format. Additional information on formatting and compliance can be found at https://pra.digital.gov.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	03/31/2025	6 Months From Approved
Responses	1,155	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	23,975	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	43,989	0	0

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.

Authorizing Statute(s): 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
   EO: EO 13985 Name/Subject of EO: Advancing Racial Equity And Support For Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government
   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

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

Federal Register Notices & Comments
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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	, , , ,

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Change Due to Agency Discretion
Annual Number of Responses	1,155	1,155
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	23,975	23,975
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	43,989	43,989

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.

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

Agency Contact: Aarti Iyer 202 564-0214 iyer.aarti@epa.gov

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