If you wish to apply for an EPA fellowship, you must be:

(a) A citizen of the United States, its territories, or possessions, or lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence;

(b) Accepted by or an applicant to an accredited educational institution for academic credit in an educational program directly related to pollution control or environmental protection; and

(c) If you are applying for a fellowship offered specifically to employees or prospective employees of state, local and Tribal organizations, you must be nominated by the head of the state, local or Tribal agency, or designee, based on the need for academic and professional career study to enhance your skills related to the needs of the organization.

EPA fellowships may include funds to help you pay such things as:

(a) A part, or all, of your tuition and fees, as determined appropriate by EPA.

(b) An expense allowance for books, supplies, and equipment (equipment is an item with a unit acquisition cost of more than $5,000) as determined appropriate by EPA. You may use this allowance for expenses that are necessary for your education, such as the cost of health insurance, supplies, and travel to conduct research and attend technical meetings relating to the fellowship. You may acquire equipment only with EPA's written approval and there will be very few instances where the purchase of equipment is authorized (see § 46.225.)

(c) A stipend determined by the EPA program office based on EPA's resources and your course load.

(a) You may use fellowship funds for travel to or work in a foreign country only if the travel or work is approved by the EPA Office of International Activities (OIA). You will be notified of OIA approval in the fellowship award or in a letter from the EPA project officer or the award official.

(b) If you travel to or from a foreign country and the travel cost is paid under the fellowship agreement, you must comply with the Fly America Act. In accordance with that Act, you must travel on U.S. air carriers certificated under 49 U.S.C. 1371,to,even.

EPA generally requests fellowship applications through electronic and printed announcements or other means designed to inform potential applicants.

The request for applications or program announcement will advise you how to file an application and what information you must include. You must submit applications for fellowships on EPA's “Fellowship Application” (EPA Form 5770-2) or in any other form EPA designates. EPA will provide instructions for completing the application. You must submit the original and two copies of the application unless the instructions require otherwise. Alternatively, EPA may allow you to submit applications electronically. It is also likely that EPA will require you to submit undergraduate and graduate transcripts to the office identified in the request for applications or program announcement.

EPA will evaluate your application based on criteria identified in the request for applications or program announcement. Evaluation criteria may include:

(a) The relevance of your proposed studies to EPA's mission.

(b) Your potential for success, as reflected by your academic record, letters of reference, and any other available information.

(c) The availability of EPA funds.

If EPA does not select you to receive a fellowship, we generally will notify you within 60 days after final selections are made. If you are a successful applicant, EPA will send you a fellowship agreement in accordance with § 46.170.