text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Project SEARCH Act of 2000''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds that--
              (1) small communities often struggle to meet environmental 
          goals due to difficulty in securing funding;
              (2) often, traditional sources of funding for environmental 
          projects require expensive, complex studies or other 
          application materials;
              (3) a small community that secures funding for an 
          environmental project from a traditional source often is unable 
          to provide matching funds required by the traditional source; 
          and
              (4) small communities would benefit from a grant program 
          designed to provide funding for environmental projects--
                      (A) through a simplified application process; and
                      (B) without the requirement of matching funds.
  
  SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
          Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
              (2) Council.--The term ``council'' means an independent 
          citizens' council established by section 4(b) .
              (3) Environmental project.--
                      (A) In general.--The term ``environmental project'' 
                  means a project that is carried out for the benefit of 
                  the public health or welfare or the environment.
                      (B) Inclusion.--The term ``environmental project'' 
                  includes an initial feasibility study.
              (4) Region.--The term ``region'' means a geographic area of 
          a State, as determined by the Governor of the State.
              (5) SEARCH grant.--The term ``SEARCH grant'' means a grant 
          for special environmental assistance for the regulation of 
          communities and habitat awarded under section 4(c)(3).
              (6) Small community.--The term ``small community'' means an 
          incorporated or unincorporated community having a population of 
          not more than 2500 individuals.
  
  SEC. 4. SEARCH GRANT PROGRAM.
  
      (a) In General.--
              (1) Establishment.--There is established the SEARCH Grant 
          Program.
              (2) Grant to council.--Not later than November 1 of each 
          year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
          shall transfer $1,000,000 to the Governor of each State, for 
          use by the council in the State.
      (b) Independent Citizens' Council.--
              (1) Establishment.--There is established in each State an 
          independent citizens' council.
              (2) Composition.--
                      (A) In general.--
                              (i) Representation.--Each council shall be 
                          composed of 9 members that broadly represent 
                          the general population of the State in which 
                          the council is established, as determined by 
                          the Governor of the State.
                              (ii) Appointment.--A member of a council 
                          shall be appointed by the Governor of the 
                          State, except that--
                                      (I) not more than 1 member shall be 
                                  an agent, employee, or official of the 
                                  Federal Government; and
                                      (II) not more than 1 member shall 
                                  be an agent, employee, or official of 
                                  the State government.
                      (B) Chairperson.--Each council shall select a 
                  chairperson from among the members of the council, 
                  except that a member described in subclause (I) or (II) 
                  of subparagraph (A)(ii) shall not serve as chairperson.
              (3) SEARCH grants.--
                      (A) In general.--Each council shall review 
                  applications for and award SEARCH grants from the funds 
                  transferred under subsection (a)(1) to small 
                  communities that meet the eligibility criteria under 
                  subsection (c).
                      (B) No matching requirement.--A small community 
                  that receives a SEARCH grant under this section shall 
                  not be required to provide matching funds.
      (c) SEARCH Grants to Small Communities.--
              (1) Eligibility criteria.--Each council may award a SEARCH 
          grant under this section to a small community for an 
          environmental project for which the small community--
                      (A)(i) is unable to secure funding; or
                      (ii) is underfunded;
                      (B) has incurred unexpected expenses during 
                  construction of the environmental project; or
                      (C) needs funds for initial feasibility or 
                  environmental studies before applying to traditional 
                  funding sources.
              (2) Application.--To apply for a SEARCH grant under this 
          section, a small community shall submit to the council in the 
          State in which the small community is located an application 
          that includes--
                      (A) a description of the proposed environmental 
                  project (including an explanation of how the project 
                  would assist the small community in complying with 
                  environmental regulations);
                      (B) an explanation of why the project is important 
                  to the community;
                      (C) a description of all actions taken with respect 
                  to the project, including any attempt to secure 
                  funding, as of the date of the application; and
                      (D) a SEARCH grant application form provided by the 
                  council, completed and with all required supporting 
                  documentation.
              (3) Application and review.--
                      (A) Application.--An application for a SEARCH grant 
                  under this section shall be submitted to a council not 
                  later than February 5 of the fiscal year for which the 
                  grant is to be awarded.
                      (B) Review and award.--Not later than March 5 of 
                  each year, each council shall--
                              (i) review all applications received under 
                          subparagraph (A); and
                              (ii) award SEARCH grants to small 
                          communities based on an evaluation of the 
                          eligibility criteria under paragraph (1).
                      (C) Unexpended funds.--
                              (i) In general.--If any unexpended funds 
                          remain after SEARCH grants are awarded under 
                          subparagraph (B), the council may repeat the 
                          application and review process so that any 
                          remaining funds may be awarded not later than 
                          July 30.
                              (ii) Retention of funds.--Any unexpended 
                          funds that are not awarded under subparagraph 
                          (B) or clause (i) shall be retained by the 
                          council for award during the following year.
      (d) Report.--Not later than September 1 of the first fiscal year 
  for which a SEARCH grant is awarded by a council under this section, 
  and annually thereafter, the council shall submit to the Administrator 
  a report that--
              (1) describes the number of SEARCH grants awarded during 
          the fiscal year;
              (2) identifies each small community that received a SEARCH 
          grant during the fiscal year;
              (3) describes the project or purpose for which each SEARCH 
          grant was awarded; and
              (4) describes the status of each project or portion of a 
          project for which a SEARCH grant was awarded, including a 
          project or portion of a project for which a SEARCH grant was 
          awarded for any fiscal year before the fiscal year in which the 
          report is submitted.
      (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
              (1) Grant funding.--
                      (A) In general.--There is authorized to be 
                  appropriated to carry out section 4(a)(2) $1,000,000 
                  for each State for each fiscal year.
                      (B) Actual appropriation.--If funds to carry out 
                  section 4(a)(2) are made available for a fiscal year in 
                  an amount that is less than the amount authorized under 
                  subparagraph (A) for the fiscal year, the appropriated 
                  funds shall be divided equally among the 50 States.
              (2) Other expenses.--There are authorized to be 
          appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the 
          provisions of this Act other than section 4(a)(2).
target: Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to transfer $1 million annually to each State Governor for use by independent citizens' councils established by this Act.
  Directs councils to review applications for and award SEARCH grants from such funds to small communities that: (1) are unable to secure funding or are underfunded for environmental projects; (2) have incurred unexpected expenses during construction of such a project; or (3) need funds for initial feasibility or environmental studies before applying to traditional funding sources.
  Authorizes appropriations.
feat_title: Project SEARCH Act of 2000