Applications due for environmental grants

REGION — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting grant applications for its Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program.

Proposals are due by March 17. EPA will conduct three conference calls on January 18, February 11 and 27, for prospective applicants to ask questions about the application process.

CARE is a competitive grant program that offers an innovative way for communities to organize and take action to reduce toxic pollution in their air, land and water.

The EPA anticipates awarding CARE cooperative agreements in two levels. Level I cooperative agreements range from $75,000 to $100,000 and can be used to create community-based partnerships to develop local environmental priorities. Level II awards, ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 each, will support communities that have already established broad-based partnerships, have identified the priority toxic risks in the community, and are prepared to measure results, implement risk reduction activities and become self-sustaining.

Examples of previously funded projects include addressing pollution from the Philadelphia ports; reducing the impacts of pesticides on public health and the environment in low-income neighborhoods in Philadelphia; addressing abandoned, contaminated industrial and residential properties in Gary, IN; dealing with agriculture-related toxics in Yakima County, WA; and reducing air emissions from diesel trucks and buses in Woonsocket, RI.

For applications and more information, visit epa.gov/care/agreements.htm .