[Federal Register: February 26, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 37)]
[Notices]
[Page 8394-8396]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26fe07-106]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Multistate Conservation Grant Program; Priority List for
Conservation Projects
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of priority list.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), announce the FY
2007 priority list of wildlife and sport fish conservation projects
from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA). As required
by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of
2000, each year AFWA submits a list of projects to us for consideration
of funding by the Multistate Conservation Grant Program. We then review
and award grants from this list.
ADDRESSES: John C. Stremple, Multistate Conservation Grants Program
Coordinator, Division of Federal Assistance, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop MBSP-4020, Arlington,
Virginia 22203.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John C. Stremple, (703) 358-2156
(phone) or John_Stremple@fws.gov (e-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration
Programs Improvement Act of 2000 (Improvement Act, Pub. L. 106-408)
amended the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669
et seq.) and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C.
777 et seq.) and established the Multistate Conservation Grant Program.
The Improvement Act authorizes us to award grants of up to $3 million
annually from funds available under each of the Restoration Acts, for a
total of up to $6 million annually. We may award grants from a list of
priority projects recommended to us by AFWA. The FWS Director,
exercising the authority of the Secretary of the Interior, need not
fund all AFWA-recommended projects, but may fund recommended projects
on the list only.
Grantees under this program may use funds for sport fisheries and
wildlife management and research projects, boating access development,
hunter safety and education, aquatic education, fish and wildlife
habitat improvements and other purposes consistent with the enabling
legislation.
To be eligible for funding, a project must benefit fish and/or
wildlife conservation in at least 26 States, or in a majority of the
States in any one FWS region, or it must benefit a regional association
of State fish and wildlife agencies. We may award grants to a State, a
group of States, or one or more nongovernmental organizations. For the
purpose of carrying out the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation, we may award grants to the FWS, if
requested by AFWA, or to a State or a group of States. Also, AFWA
requires all project proposals to address its National Conservation
Needs, which are announced annually by AFWA at the same time as its
request for proposals. Further, applicants must provide certification
that no activities conducted under a Multistate Conservation Grant will
promote or encourage opposition to the regulated hunting or trapping of
wildlife or to the regulated angling for or taking of fish.
Eligible project proposals are reviewed and ranked by AFWA
Committees and interested nongovernmental organizations that represent
conservation organizations, sportsmen's organizations, and industries
that support or promote fishing, hunting, trapping, recreational
shooting, bow hunting, or archery. AFWA's Committee on National Grants
recommends a final list of priority projects to the directors of State
fish and wildlife agencies for their approval by majority vote. By
statute, AFWA then must transmit the final, approved list to the FWS
for funding under the Multistate Conservation Grant Program by October
1.
This year, we received a list of 11 recommended projects. They are
recommended for funding in 2007, contingent on the Multistate
Conservation Grant Program receiving additional funds as specified in
the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity
Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-059) passed in August 2005. AFWA's recommended
list follows:
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Dated: January 21, 2007.
Kenneth Stansell,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 07-830 Filed 2-23-07; 8:45 am]
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