[Federal Register: April 24, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 79)]
[Notices]
[Page 20676-20679]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24ap01-78]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Procedures for Selecting and Funding Multistate Conservation
Grants Under the Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration
Programs
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Service is announcing procedures for obtaining funding for
multistate conservation project grants (Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Number 15.628) for FY 2002. Up to $3,043,255 is available
for these grants in Wildlife Restoration funds and up to $3,265,392 in
Sport Fish Restoration funds.
DATES: Grant application materials must be received by the
International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA) by June
15, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Grant application materials may be mailed or e-mailed to:
Mr. Robert L. Miles, International Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies, 444 N. Capitol Street NW., Suite 544, Washington, DC 20001;
phone, (202) 624-7890; e-mail, rmiles@sso.org.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Regarding a specific grant: Mr. Robert L. Miles, International
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; phone, (202) 624-7890; e-
mail, rmiles@sso.org.
Regarding the Multistate Conservation Grant Program: Mr. Kris E.
LaMontagne, Chief, Division of Federal Aid, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service; phone, (703) 358-2156; e-mail, kris_e_lamontagne@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service publishes a Notice in the
Federal Register each year announcing the deadline for project
proposals, the amount of money available for multistate conservation
project grants, and the National Conservation Needs. National
Conservation Needs are established annually to promote and encourage
efforts that address priority needs of State fish and wildlife
agencies.
National Conservation Needs contained in this Notice were developed
by the IAFWA through a committee consisting of heads of State fish and
wildlife agencies (or their designees). The committee developed the
National Conservation Needs in consultation with nongovernmental
organizations that represent conservation organizations, sportsmen's
organizations, and industries that support or promote sport fishing,
hunting, trapping, recreational shooting, bow hunting, or archery.
National Conservation Needs are provided as a guide so that applicants
will know the types of projects that will likely be funded.
Eligible grantees are a State or group of States; the Service, or a
State or group of States, for the purpose of carrying out the National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation; or
nongovernmental organizations, subject to the following restrictions.
Nongovernmental organizations that apply for a grant must submit with
the application to the IAFWA a certification that the organization will
not use grant funds to fund, in whole or in part, any activity that
promotes or encourages opposition to the regulated hunting or trapping
of wildlife, or the regulated taking of fish.
The Department of the Interior has promulgated rules (43 CFR part
12) adopting common rules developed by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) as required by OMB Circulars A-102 and A-110 that contain
administrative requirements that apply to these grants. This annual
grant program contains information collection requirements for which
approval by the OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, as
specified in 43 CFR part 12.4, has been obtained (OMB control number
1018-0109, expires January 31, 2004, and 1018-0049, expires September
30, 2003). The Application for Federal Assistance (the Standard Form
424 series) prescribed by OMB Circulars A-102 and A-110 and required as
part of this application process have the OMB control number 0348-0043.
A. Purpose
This statement establishes procedures for selecting multistate
conservation project proposals to be funded through the Federal Aid in
Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Programs for the purpose of
promoting and encouraging efforts that address priority needs of State
fish and wildlife agencies. These projects are funded through grants to
a State or group of States; the Service, or a State or group of States,
for the purpose of carrying out the National Survey of Fishing,
Hunting, and
[[Page 20677]]
Wildlife-Associated Recreation; or nongovernmental organizations.
B. Background
The mission of the Multistate Conservation Grant Program is to
strengthen the ability of State and Territorial fish and wildlife
agencies to meet effectively the consumptive and nonconsumptive needs
of the public for fish and wildlife resources. The Federal Aid in Sport
Fish Restoration Act and the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act as
amended by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement
Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-408) authorize the Secretary of the Interior
to make not more than $6,000,000 available annually under the Federal
Aid Program for the purpose of funding multistate conservation project
grants.
C. Availability of Funds
In Fiscal Year 2002, the amount of funds estimated to be available
for multistate conservation project grants is $6,308,647 through the
Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Programs. This
figure includes $308,647 unobligated funds carried over from Fiscal
Year 2001.
D. Period of Availability
Amounts made available under this Program for multistate
conservation project grants will remain available for making grants
only for the first fiscal year for which the amount is made available
and the following fiscal year (available for obligation for two fiscal
years).
E. Eligible Grantees
A multistate conservation project grant may be made only to:
1. A State or group of States;
2. The Service, or a State or group of States, for the purpose of
carrying out the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-
Associated Recreation; or
3. Nongovernmental organizations, subject to the following
restrictions. A nongovernmental organization that applies for a grant
must submit with the application to the IAFWA a certification that the
organization will not use grant funds to fund, in whole or in part, any
activity that promotes or encourages opposition to the regulated
hunting or trapping of wildlife or the regulated taking of fish.
F. Eligible Projects
A project is not eligible for a grant unless the project will
benefit:
1. At least 26 States;
2. A majority of the States in a Region of the Service; or
3. A regional association of State fish and wildlife departments.
G. Application Process
1. All grant application materials for Multistate Conservation
Grant Program funding must be mailed or e-mailed to: Mr. Robert L.
Miles, International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 444 N.
Capitol Street NW., Suite 544, Washington, DC 20001; phone, (202) 624-
7890; fax, (202) 624-7890; e-mail, rmiles@sso.org. See guidance below
for electronic submission of proposals.
2. Each year, a Notice will be published in the Federal Register
announcing the deadline for submitting grant application materials (see
Appendix A, Calendar of Events). The Notice will also announce total
funds available for multistate conservation project grants.
H. Submission Requirements
To submit a project proposal through the mail, an original hard
copy and a floppy disk that contains the narrative portion of the
proposal (excluding required forms) must be submitted to Mr. Robert L.
Miles, International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 444 N.
Capitol Street NW., Suite 544, Washington, DC 20001; phone, (202) 624-
7890. In addition, hard copies of the Application for Federal
Assistance (Standard Form 424 series) must also be submitted.
Electronic submission via e-mail of the narrative portion of
project proposals is encouraged and should be addressed to
rmiles@sso.org. Applicants who submit proposals using e-mail are
required to submit hard copies of the Application for Federal
Assistance (Standard Form 424 series) to the above address or fax them
to (202) 624-7890, Attention: Mr. Robert L. Miles.
The following forms and format for proposals are required.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to limit the narrative portion of
proposals to 10 pages or less.
1. Application for Federal Assistance--Standard Form 424 as
prescribed by Office of Management and Budget Circular A-110, OMB
Circular A-102, and the common rule (Uniform Administrative
Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to States and Local
Governments and Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and
Cooperative Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education,
Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit Organizations). The SF 424 consists of
a coversheet, the SF 424A consists of a budget sheet, and the SF 424B
consists of compliance assurances. These forms may be obtained
electronically by going to http://fa.r9.fws.gov and clicking on ``FA
Toolkit in PDF Format'', then clicking on ``Forms''. Proposals received
without these forms will not be accepted.
2. Title--A short descriptive name of the proposal.
3. Objective--What will this proposal do? State a concise statement
of the purpose of the proposal in quantified terms where possible.
4. Need--Why address this problem?
a. State any National Conservation Need that the proposal addresses
in whole or in part.
b. Describe the number of States affected by the proposal or the
regional association of State fish and wildlife departments and how
they will benefit.
c. Give a brief status report on the history of previous work
conducted by the proposer or others to address this need.
5. Expected Results or Benefits--What will be gained by funding
this proposal? Describe the significance of accomplishing the proposal.
Describe provisions for making the product or results available and
usable to those affected by the problem or need. Benefits should be
expressed in quantified terms, i.e., angler days, harvest per unit
effort, improvements to State administration, dollars saved, etc. If
the proposal relates to the accomplishment of all or part of a National
Conservation Need, state how.
6. Approach--How will the proposed project be conducted? Describe
how the work will be conducted including a description of techniques
and methods to be used, milestones, and a schedule of accomplishments.
7. Resumes--What are the qualifications of key personnel? Include
resumes and names of key individuals who will be involved in the
project, stating their particular qualifications for undertaking the
project.
8. Project Costs--Submit a completed SF 424A, Budget Information--
Non-Construction Programs. Multi-year proposals must include an
itemized budget showing funds required for each 12-month period. With
the exception of the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-
Associated Recreation, a project can be funded for a period of not more
than three years.
I. National Conservation Needs Determination Process
National Conservation Needs are developed by State fish and
wildlife agencies, acting through the committees of the IAFWA and must
satisfy all the following:
[[Page 20678]]
1. Identifies a problem that restricts the ability of State and
Territorial fish and wildlife agencies to effectively meet the needs of
the public for fish and wildlife resources;
2. Impacts the fish and wildlife resources or fish and wildlife
programs of at least 26 States; a majority of the States in a Region of
the Service; or a regional association of State fish and wildlife
departments;
3. Is an obvious, continuous, and pressing resource management
problem, or a recently identified problem that is significant and
urgent;
4. Can be met by a practical and economically feasible management
approach that will result in improved resource management or
environmental quality;
5. Could not practically be addressed by a single State or small
group of States; and
6. Represents a need that is not being fully addressed by a current
project.
J. National Conservation Needs for Fiscal Year 2002
State fish and wildlife agencies, acting through the committees of
the IAFWA, developed the following eight National Conservation Needs
for this grant period.
1. National Enhancement of Wildlife Health Services to Wildlife
Managers
The capability to deliver wildlife health-related services is not
uniform throughout the United States. Information on wildlife health
issues is vital to the development and defense of sound management
programs and policies for wildlife. Natural resources agencies must
pursue ways to have greater health management expertise available
within the wildlife management profession. Methods and programs to
enhance delivery of wildlife health services to wildlife managers and
wildlife management agencies need to be developed and facilitated.
2. Development and Implementation of Strategies and Programs That
Integrate a Sound Marketing and Communications Approach
Current and projected demographic changes within the United States
population are, and will continue to have significant impacts on
program planning, funding strategies and policy development decisions
of state fish and wildlife agencies. These agencies need the
information, tools and training necessary to enhance the participation
of traditional and non-traditional/under-represented constituencies in
wildlife management and wildlife associated recreation. In addition to
these basic tools, there is a national need to better understand the
processes of retention and recruitment in wildlife associated
recreation. State fish and wildlife agencies also need up-to-date
information on the various approaches that other States are using to
address this need and their degree of success.
3. Approval of Aquaculture Drugs and Chemicals
There is an urgent need for approval of a wide range of drugs and
chemicals for use in aquaculture. Thirty-eight states have joined in a
cooperative project with the U.S. Geological Service, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and the Department of Agriculture to conduct the
studies needed to gain approval for eight important drugs for use in
disease prevention and treatment of a wide variety of fish species.
While much progress has been made, additional studies are needed to
generate efficacy and other data required for the approval of all eight
drugs and completion of the cooperative project.
4. Programs That Enhance and Improve the Ability of State Fish and
Wildlife Agencies To Administer Their Agency and Manage the Wildlife
Resources of Their State
Over the years, several projects have evolved that have provided
State fish and wildlife agencies with information, expertise, employee
training, agency and program evaluations, reference services, etc.
Examples are the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife
Associated Recreation, the Management Assistance Team, and the Library
Reference Service. These projects have provided State fish and wildlife
agencies with information and assistance at a reduced cost that they
would have had difficulty obtaining on their own. A need exists for
similar types of projects that improve the ability of State fish and
wildlife agencies to administer their agencies and carry out their
mandated responsibilities more effectively and efficiently.
5. Wildlife Habitat Management on Conservation Reserve Program Lands
When the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) was reauthorized as
part of the 1996 Farm Bill, the enhancement of wildlife resources
became a co-equal program objective, along with reduced soil erosion
and improved water quality. CRP uses the Environmental Benefits Index
(EBI) to determine lands accepted into the Program. Wildlife habitat
values, including maintenance of plant species diversity, are an
important factor in calculation of EBI scores. However, maintenance of
plant species diversity requires frequent disturbance of the grass
stand, often using tools such as burning and discing instead of more
traditional mowing.
Specific information is needed on how vegetative structure and
plant species diversity and habitat values (insect population, brood
value, etc.) change over time on CRP lands, the relationships among
habitat quality and disturbance type, the frequency and type of
disturbance needed, and the identification of those native legumes and
native cool-season grasses which will achieve the desired habitat
conditions of a better simulated native grassland system.
6. Programs That Support Hunter, Trapper and Shooting Sports
Recruitment
The percentage of the general population that hunts and traps has
shown a general decline over the past decade. Reversing this decline
will strengthen state fish and wildlife agencies by broadening public
and financial support for conservation programs. Programs are needed at
both the state and national level that will lead to the reversal of
this trend and result in increased hunting, trapping and shooting
sports participation, with priority going to those programs that
increase funding support for state agencies.
7. Integrated Bird Conservation
The challenges, significance, and conservation opportunities
associated with ``integrated bird conservation'' are becoming
increasingly apparent and remain a top priority of the State fish and
wildlife agencies. The need for coordination and implementation of such
national and international efforts including the North American
Waterfowl Management Plan, US Shorebird Conservation Plan, Partners in
Flight Plan, North American Waterbird Conservation Plan, as well as
interest in resident game birds is great. State fish and wildlife
agencies, and their partners need assistance in addressing the
challenges associated with integrated bird conservation and
accelerating implementation of such programs. Projects are needed that
will create greater conservation efficiencies, address the concerns and
desires of the various bird related groups, lead to more effective
conservation actions implemented within a landscape context, better and
more directly address the diverse array of bird conservation
priorities, address integration of resident wildlife conservation
actions with those of
[[Page 20679]]
migratory birds at the State level, and foster partnerships at all
levels.
8. Multistate Planning Efforts To Address Conservation Needs of Species
at Risk
Assistance is needed for facilitating multi-state and more
localized planning efforts to develop conservation agreements for
species of concern that address the species life needs and habitat
requirements prior to their designation as candidate species or
subsequent listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act.
K. Project Proposal Review and Selection Process
1. Project proposals will be evaluated for eligibility as defined
in Section F and ranked by appropriate committees of the IAFWA at their
annual September meeting. The National Grants Committee appointed by
the President of the IAFWA will review the Committees' evaluations and
rankings and prepare a recommended priority list of project proposals
for submission to the IAFWA's Annual Business Meeting.
2. The Directors of the State fish and wildlife agencies will
approve a priority list of project proposals for funding at the IAFWA's
Annual Business Meeting.
3. In preparing this list, the IAFWA will consult with
nongovernmental organizations that represent conservation
organizations, sportsmen's organizations, and industries that support
or promote sport fishing, hunting, trapping, recreational shooting, bow
hunting, or archery.
4. The IAFWA will submit the priority list of projects to the
Services' Assistant Director for Migratory Birds and State Programs by
October 1, 2001.
5. The Service will publish the priority list in the Federal
Register.
6. The Service Director will make the final decision on projects to
be awarded grants. The Director will award grants only to projects
included in the priority list submitted by the IAFWA.
L. Grant Awards and Funding
1. The Service will prepare and sign the formal grant agreements.
The formal grant agreements will be forwarded to the grantees for
signature and must be signed by a Service representative and an
authorized grantee official before they become valid agreements. This
process may require up to 60 days to complete. The Service is not
responsible for costs incurred prior to the effective date of a signed
agreement; therefore, the starting date for all projects should be
planned accordingly.
2. The entire amount of funds required for a project must be
obligated in the fiscal year the grant is approved (as per guidance in
50 CFR part 80.8).
3. Nonprofit, commercial and institutions of higher education
grantees must maintain a financial management system in accordance with
the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-110 and 43 CFR part 12,
subpart F. State and local governments must maintain a financial
management system in accordance with OMB Circular A-102 and 43 CFR part
12, subpart C.
M. Project Administration
Proposals awarded funding will be assigned to a Project Officer.
Project Officers provide assistance that includes:
1. Serving as the Service's point of contact after the award
agreement is signed;
2. Receiving and approving invoices; and
3. Monitoring project performance and assuring that the award
recipient adheres to the award agreement.
Calendar of Events--Appendix A
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Target Date Event
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April 16................. Service publishes Federal Register Notice
announcing availability of Multistate
Conservation Grant Program funds and
National Conservation Needs for grant
applications.
June 15.................. Grant application materials must be received
by the IAFWA.
September................ The Directors of the State fish and wildlife
agencies will approve a priority list of
project proposals for funding at the IAFWA's
Annual Business Meeting.
October 1................ The IAFWA submits a priority list of projects
to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Services'
Assistant Director for Migratory Birds and
State Programs.
November 15.............. Service publishes Federal Register Notice of
priority list of projects submitted by the
IAFWA.
January 30............... Service awards grants.
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Dated: April 7, 2001.
Marshall P. Jones, Jr.,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 01-10145 Filed 4-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P