NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC
ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
AUTHORIZATION:
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, Section 312, Public
Law 92-583, 16 U.S.C. 1451 Seq.; Coastal Zone Management Act Amendments of
1987, Section 315 (1), Public Law 94-370; Coastal Zone Management Act
Amendments of 1980, Public Law 96-464; Coastal Zone Management Act Amendments
of 1984, Public Law 98-960; Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of
1990, Public Law 101-508.
To assist States in the acquisition, monitoring,
research, development and operation of national estuarine research reserves
for the purpose of creating natural field laboratories to gather data and make
studies of, and educate people about the natural and human processes occurring
within the estuaries of the coastal zone.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Grants may be used to cover the costs of acquisition,
development and operation of National Estuarine Research Reserves. Development
and operation costs may include the administrative expenses necessary for
monitoring the reserve. Grants are available to states for education projects
at reserves. Competitive research and monitoring grants are also available.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility:
Acquisition, development and operation grants are available to any coastal
State including those bordering the Great Lakes. For the purposes of the
Coastal Zone Management Act, the coastal State also applies to Puerto Rico,
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Marianas. The Governor
shall designate the State agency or entity to be the applicant. Competitive
research grants are available to any coastal State or qualified public or
private person. Competitive monitoring grants are available to reserve
management or qualified public or private person or entity designated by the
reserve. Education grants are available to any coastal State entity.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
Any coastal State including those bordering the Great Lakes, as well as Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Marianas.
Also qualified scientists, educators, and students for research grants.
Credentials/Documentation:
(1) For acquisition, development and operations grants: A letter from the
Governor designating the lead agency for new reserve development; (2) for
competitive monitoring and education grant proposals which do not come from
the lead agency: A letter from the reserve manager indicating formal support
of the application by the lead agency. For all grants, a statement of work and
budget estimate. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No.
A-87 for State and local governments.
Pre-application Coordination:
The standard application forms, as furnished by NOAA and required by 15 CFR
Part 24, must be used when applying for Federal funding. These forms can be
obtained from the NOAA Grants Management Division. Informal pre-application
conferences are recommended. Consultation and assistance is available from
NOAA in the preparation of an application. This program is eligible for
coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs." If a State or local government is the provider of matching
funds, 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.
Application Procedure: For
development (construction) awards, the Application for Federal Assistance (For
Construction Programs) SF-424, as furnished by NOAA is to be submitted in
original plus two copies. For operation and management, education and
research, acquisition and non-construction development awards, the application
for Federal assistance (For Non-Construction Programs) SF-424 is to be used.
This program is subject to the provisions of 15 CFR Part 24 for State and
local governments.
Award Procedure:
Applications are approved by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource
Management and Grants Management Division.
Deadlines: Preapplications
and applications should be submitted 150 and 120 days respectively prior to
grant beginning date.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:
From 90 to 120 workdays.
Appeals: No formal
procedure. If application is unacceptable the applicant is fully informed and
may revise application.
Renewals: Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements:
Range from 0 to 50 percent of the total project cost provided by the applicant
depending upon the type of project. The Federal share for each reserve shall
not exceed $5,000,000 for acquisition of lands, waters or interests therein.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:
Generally, 1 year. Acquisition and construction may be longer. Funds are
released as required.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: All financial status
reports and performance reports are required semi-annually.
Audits: In accordance with
the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133, recipients that are States, Local
Governments, Nonprofit Organizations, and Institutions of Higher Learning
shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act
Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507). Commercial organizations shall be
subject to the audit requirements as stipulated in the award document.
Records: All financial and
programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports, and other
records of grantees or sub grantees are required to be maintained by the terms
of the agreement. The grantee must retain records for 3 years from the date
when the final expenditure report is submitted.
By the end of fiscal year 2001, there were 25 designated
estuarine research reserves.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
15 CFR Part 921 National Estuarine Research Reserve
System Program Regulations.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office:
None.
Headquarters Office: Chief,
Estuarine Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management,
National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Department of Commerce, 1305 East-West Highway, 11th Floor Silver Spring, MD
20910. Telephone: (301) 713-3155. Use the same number for FTS.
Web Site Address: http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/nerr/
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Generic projects/activities funded under the national
Estuarine Research Reserve program consist of: acquisition of lands to be
included in the reserve; site selection procedures and management plan
development; construction projects; operation of the reserve; and research and
educational activities.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
There are six types of awards to coastal States under
the National Estuarine Research Reserve Program: (1) acquisition; (2)
development; (3) operation; (4) monitoring; (5) education; and (6) research.
Detailed criteria for the State's development of these awards and criteria for
reviewing each award are provided in the regulations for the National
Estuarine Research Reserves Program (15 CFR Part 921). Final regulations were
published in the Federal Register, July 15, 1993.
