Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, Public Law
95-313; Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, as amended,
Public Law 101-624.
With respect to nonfederal forest and other rural lands
to assist in the advancement of forest resources management; the encouragement
of the production of timber; the control of insects and diseases affecting
trees and forests; the control of rural fires; the efficient utilization of
wood and wood residues, including the recycling of wood fiber; the improvement
and maintenance of fish and wildlife habitat; and the planning and conduct of
urban and community forestry programs.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
To assist State Forester or equivalent agencies in
forest stewardship programs on private, State, local, and other nonfederal
forest and rural lands. Programs may include production of timber and
efficient processing and use of wood products; developing genetically improved
tree seeds; producing and distributing tree seeds and seedlings;
reforestation; timber stand improvement; improving wildlife habitat; assisting
private woodland owners in harvesting, processing, and marketing activities;
conversion of wood to energy; protection and improvement of forest soil
fertility; forest insect and disease management; urban and community forestry;
Development and transfer of new and improved fire control technologies;
organization of shared fire suppression resources, and achievement of more
efficient State fire protection; provision of financial, technical and related
assistance to local rural fire fighting forces; acquisition and loan of
Federal excess property; organizational improvement; forestry resources
planning; conservation of forest land; and technology transfer.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: State
Forestry or equivalent State agencies, tribes, non-profits, and municipalities
are eligible. All States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands, and the territories and possessions of the United States are
eligible.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
Landowners of nonfederal lands; rural community fire fighting forces; urban
and municipal governments, non- profit organizations, tribes and other State,
local, and private agencies acting through State Foresters, equivalent State
officials, or other official representatives.
Credentials/Documentation:
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State
and local governments, as implemented by 7 CFR Part 3016.
Pre-application Coordination:
An environmental impact statement is required for this program whenever
pesticides are to be used. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.
12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant
should consult the office or official designated as the single point of
contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State
requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected
the program for review. The standard application forms as furnished by the
Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, as implemented by 7 CFR
Part 3016, must be used for this program (i.e., SF-424). To participate in the
Forest Legacy Program interested States must prepare an Assessment of need
document for approval by the Secretary of Agriculture.
Application Procedure: Not
applicable. Contact Regional or Area Office listed in Appendix IV of the
Catalog.
Award Procedure:
Established by the Regional Office.
Deadlines: States and
eligible applicants are requested to submit Form SF-424(A) with SF 424
application and other required forms as advised by the Regional Office within
10 to 60 days.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:
From 10 to 60 days. State single point of contact will have 30 days from
notification of tentative allotments to comment.
Appeals: Not applicable.
Renewals: Amend SF-424(A)
with SF 424 application is required to amend the allotment amount or length of
commitment, other requirements may be established by the Regional Office.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements:
Statistical factors for eligibility do not apply to this program. The amount
reimbursed by the Federal Government shall not exceed the amount expended by a
State grantee or grantee for all programs except those covered by Section 11
of Public Law 95-313. Cost-sharing ratios for Section 11(a) Management
Assistance and Section 11(c), Technology Implementation programs shall be
negotiated. Section 11(b), Forest Resource Planning program funds require 20
percent matching by the State. Amount of grant based on negotiated targets to
be achieved.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:
Electronic transfers of payments are encouraged.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: Periodic and annual
accomplishment reports are required.
Audits: In accordance with
the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997),
"Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations,"
non federal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in
Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for
that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in
Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year,
except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records: State and other
generally accepted accounting systems are permissible, if acceptable to audit
and reconciliation. All grantees need to maintain adequate systems for
collecting and recording statistical data.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
12-1105-0-1-302.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01
$119,036,000; FY 02 est $143,471,000; and FY 03 est $343,464,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
$25,000 to $6,000,000. Average: $1,000,000.
Land owners enrolled in forest stewardship programs:
2001 actual 13,919; 2001 estimate 18,604,000; and 2003 estimate, 36,525,000.
Acres of forest stewardship plans: 2001 actual 1,437,000; 2001 estimate
1,916,000; and 2003 estimate 3,914,000. Urban communities assisted: 2001
actual 10,785,00; 2002 estimate 10,785,000 and 2003 estimate 23,356,000. Acres
protected from fire: 2000 estimate, 1,050,000; 2002 estimate 1,050,000; and
2003 estimate 1,050,000. Acres of forest insect and disease surveys: 2001
estimate, 575,000,000; 2002 estimate 575,000,000; and 2003 estimate
575,000,000. Acres of insect and disease suppression: 2001 estimate 1,500,000;
2002 estimate 1,500,000; and 2003 estimate 1,500,000. The number of
applications received and funded is not available without an additional data
gathering effort from among field line units. Grants are not competitive, but
are of a continuing nature, annually renewable, and based on negotiated
targets. The total percentage of applications received and funded was 100.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Forest Service Manual- Titles 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300,
3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, and 3900 available in all Forest Service
offices, and State Forestry agency offices. OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-87,
as implemented by 7 CFR Part 3016, are applicable to State and local
government grantees.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office:
Refer to Appendix IV of the Catalog for Regional and Area State and Private
Forestry offices of the Forest Service and for addresses and telephone numbers
of Regional Foresters and Area Director of the Forest Service.
Headquarters Office: Deputy
Chief, State and Private Forestry, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture,
P.O. Box 96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090. Telephone: (202) 205-1657.
Web Site Address: http://www.fs.fed
us/spf/coop
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Funding is for programs by State Forestry Agencies and
other as set forth in USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Most grants are approved on the basis of negotiated
targets or objectives to be achieved. However, grants to rural communities are
based on regional and area criteria for meeting the needs and opportunities of
the communities. U&CF community grants are based on local needs and
resources. A specific project focus may be developed by State Urban Forestry
Councils.
