[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 206 (Monday, October 26, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 57121-57123] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-28617] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-6180-4] DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Federal Transit Administration Transportation/Air Quality Public Information Initiative: ``It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air'' FY 99 Demonstration Communities; Request for Letters of Interest AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency; Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Over the past year, the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Mobile Sources (OMS) have begun a collaborative public education program to be implemented at the community level. This effort is designed to inform the public about the connection between transportation, air pollution and public health, and the ability of individuals to make a difference once they are informed about the environmental consequences of their daily travel choices . Through this Document, the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Mobile Sources are soliciting interest from organizations and communities around the country who would benefit from participation as Demonstration Communities in ``It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air''--a transportation/air quality public information initiative. DATES: Deadline for Letters of Interest--November 25, 1998. ADDRESSES: This document can also be accessed at no cost by contacting: DOT/Federal Highway Administration Web Page: ``www.fhwa.dot.gov/ environment/pubout'' EPA's Office of Mobile Sources Web Page: ``www.epa.gov/oms'' click on ``What's New?'' FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Daniel, Project Manager, US DOT Federal Highway Administration, 400 7th Street SW (HEP-40), Washington, DC 20590, (Phone) 202/366-6276 (Fax) 202/366-3409, ``[email protected]''; Patrice Thornton, Project Manager, EPA Office of Mobile Sources, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, (Phone) 734/214-4329 (Fax) 734/ 214-4906, ``[email protected]''; Abbe Marner, Federal Transit Administration, 400 7th Street SW (TPL- 12), Washington, DC 20590, (Phone) 202/366-4317 (Fax) 202/493-2478, ``[email protected]''. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected Entities: Communities and/or organizations interested in participating as Demonstration Communities in a public education project addressing transportation choices and their impact on air quality. Title: Transportation/Air Quality Public Information Initiative: ``It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air''--FY 99 Demonstration Communities-- Request For Letters of Interest. Abstract: Over the past year, the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Mobile Sources (OMS) have begun collaborating on a public education program to be implemented at the community level, which informs the public about the connection between transportation, air pollution, public health, and the ability of individuals to make a difference once they are informed about the environmental consequences of their daily travel choices. This goal is being accomplished by (1) providing national support for community-based public education efforts on the impacts of transportation choices on air quality, traffic congestion , and public health, (2) encouraging and facilitating the creation of national and local coalitions committed to raising awareness, understanding, acceptance, and action related to transportation/air quality issues, and (3) encouraging informed and responsible choices for individual actions through public information. The theme of the initiative is ``It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air.'' The federal partners--FHWA, FTA and OMS--are currently pilot- testing program design as well as products produced for three diverse communities--Dover, Delaware; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and San Francisco, California--in support of the long term effort. Pilot communities were selected to provide an opportunity to learn from the experience of areas with diversity in size, existing transportation infrastructure, air quality, and degrees of public understanding of transportation, air quality and the impact of their individual choices. Coalitions of organizations with vested interest in transportation/air quality issues in each of the three pilot communities are currently involved in public education campaigns on transportation choices and their impact on air quality. The messages being tested in the pilot phase of the initiative focus on combining errands, car care, and using alternative modes of transportation. These initial efforts are scheduled to continue through October, 1998. Because the approach and results differ from community to community, important and relevant lessons are being learned from each site. Comprehensive evaluation of and in collaboration with the pilot sites are being undertaken by the federal partners in collaboration with the pilot sites in the fall of this year. The program will then be expanded to include as many as twelve (12) Demonstration Communities in 1999. Purpose of Request for Letters of Interest Through this Notice, FHWA, FTA and OMS are soliciting interest from organizations and communities around the country who believe they would benefit from participation as a [[Page 57122]] Demonstration Community in ``It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air''--the transportation/air quality public information initiative. Demonstration Communities will receive national support to further their public education efforts on transportation and air quality. National support to be provided includes market research; consistent national messages; limited seed money ($25,000 per site); a comprehensive resource ``tool kit'' including transportation and air quality facts and figures; promotional materials; high quality TV, radio, and print advertisements and other public education tools; ``how to'' information; and technical assistance to create or expand and support coalitions committed to improving quality of life through minimizing traffic congestion and reducing air pollution. This Notice provides information which will allow organizations and communities to determine their interest in participating as a Demonstration Community in the 1999 ``It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air'' initiative, and to begin preparing information needed to apply for the program later this year. The purpose of requesting a Letter from interested communities and organizations is to help the federal agencies prepare an efficient evaluation/selection process. Submitting a Letter of Interest will not commit an organization/community to proceed with an application. Those not submitting a Letter may still apply at the appropriate time. Developing a Letter of Interest Letters of Interest should be 3-5 pages. The federal partners are interested in brief answers to the following questions: --Is the community committed to raising public awareness of transportation, air quality, public health and the impact of individual actions? --What is the extent of the air quality and congestion problem in the interested community? --Is there an existing coalition or collaborative established to address transportation and air quality issues? --If so, who are the partners in this coalition? --If not, is the community committed to developing and maintaining such a coalition? --Is the community currently involved in a public education program on transportation/air quality issues? --Could activities begun or expanded continue beyond the period when federal support is being provided to the community? Expansion of the ``It All Adds Up To Cleaner Air'' Initiative Expansion of this initiative will take place in two phases. Phase One, begun with this Notice, will involve submission of a ``Letter of Interest'' from organizations who might be interested in participating as a 1999 Demonstration Community. Phase Two will begin with a formal solicitation expected to be issued by the federal partners in November, 1998. The solicitation will outline all requirements and will be widely distributed through the Federal Register, Agency Websites and other electronic means, existing organizational networks and publications, conferences, etc. Organizations interested in participating will then have 60 days to submit the requested information. Expectations for the 1999 Demonstration Communities Using the materials developed and refined through the pilot sites, Demonstration Communities will further our knowledge of what works and what doesn't. Dialogue with the public will address (1) the connection between transportation choices, traffic congestion, and air quality, (2) alternate modes of transportation, and (3) efforts to reach the long-term objectives of environmentally beneficial transportation choices in the community, informed life-work decisions, and increased investment in transportation and air quality. Additional and innovative materials will be developed which can be replicated and provided for use in other community-based efforts nationwide. Through evaluation, we will continue to learn lessons about organizations and perspectives which must be involved and what resources are required to ensure long- term success in addressing transportation choices and their impact on air quality. Demonstration Communities will be expected to work closely with the federal partners as they track outreach activities, successes and challenges, market research, etc. Partnerships The cornerstone of the overall initiative is the forging of long- term partnerships which will integrate the need to address air quality and transportation choices into community planning and education. These partnerships will ensure that public education and investment in transportation and air quality will continue beyond the initial federal support in Demonstration Communities. Partners could include employers, non-profit organizations, health providers, public interest and business groups, youth, and other levels of government. Proposed Time Line Request for Letters of Interest Published--September 1998 Letters of Interest Received--October 1998 Solicitation Issued--November 1998 Requested Information Due--January 1999 Evaluation/Selection Completed--March 1999 Award of Funds--April 1999 Eligible Organizations Letters of Interest will be accepted from any community/public organization with interest in this initiative. However, when Demonstration Communities are selected through review of formal information received in Phase 2, priority will be given to communities/ public organizations which can clearly demonstrate a perceived air quality and traffic congestion problem, involvement of a wide range of organizations, a level of public understanding of transportation choices as solutions to congestion and air quality problems, and the commitment to conduct public education linking transportation, air quality, public health and individual choices. Please note that only Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), state departments of transportation, state, local, and regional air management agencies, councils of government and public transit agencies will be eligible to serve as funding recipients for the seed money offered to selected communities. Lead organizations are strongly encouraged to create partnerships with other organizations actively involved in congestion mitigation and air quality improvement. Potential Information To Be Requested Through Formal Solicitation FHWA, FTA and OMS are currently developing the selection criteria against which proposals will be evaluated. However, it is likely that the information requested will include how the community will demonstrate: --A perceived air quality and congestion problem --Level of public understanding of transportation choices as solutions to congestion and air quality problems --Goals of improved air quality and reduced congestion through transportation choices --Effectiveness of collaborative activities and partnerships with other [[Page 57123]] stakeholders needed to effectively develop or implement the project --Demonstrated ability to reach target audiences through media, outreach and collaborative efforts --Ability to integrate these efforts with existing programs/campaigns --Potential for continuing the effort beyond federal support Additional Items of Interest --The limited amount of ``seed money'' is clearly insufficient to accomplish the goals of the overall initiative. In the final selection process, priority will be given to those who indicate a clear ability to undertake the initiative and commit resources beyond those provided through the federal partners. Participation as a Demonstration Community will clearly require a commitment of human as well as financial resources. --Potential Demonstration Communities are encouraged to consider integrating this initiative into other ongoing public education efforts. Other potential funding sources could include the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ), the Transportation and Community and Systems Preservation Pilot Program (TCSP) under the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century, the annual Mobile Source Outreach Assistance Competition (limited to designated state and local air management agencies) and other funds obtained to conduct transportation/air quality public education activities. Submitting ``Letters of Interest'' Letters of Interest'' (5 copies) should be sent to: Susan Bullard, Director of Outreach and Communication, US EPA Office of Mobile Sources, 401 M Street SW (MC 6401), Washington, DC 20460, (phone) 202/ 260-2614, (fax) 202/260-6011, email: ``[email protected]''. Dated: September 23, 1998. Margo T. Oge, Director, Office of Mobile Sources, Environmental Protection Agency. Dated: October 16, 1998. Charlotte M. Adams, Associate Administrator for Planning, Federal Transit Administration. Dated: October 15, 1998. James M. Shrouds, Chief, Environmental Analysis Division, Office of Environment and Planning, Federal Highway Administration. [FR Doc. 98-28617 Filed 10-23-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P