FEDERAL AGENCY:

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2002, Public Law 107-63; Title I; Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965; 16 U.S.C. 4601-4 through 11.

OBJECTIVES:

To establish or supplement existing landowner incentive programs that provide technical or financial assistance including habitat protection and restoration, to private landowners for the protection and management of habitat to benefit Federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species on private lands; and to encourage States to enhance private landowner conservation by providing these benefits to private landowners in an efficient manner.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

These grants are available for conservation efforts to be carried out on private lands, to provide technical or financial assistance to private landowners for the purpose of benefitting Federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species on private lands. Assistance must be to protect, restore, or manage habitat on private lands.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Application is limited to States, Federally recognized Indian Tribal Governments, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa agencies with lead management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Land/Property Owner and Anyone/General Public. (While direct participation is limited to State fish and wildlife agencies, private landowners will directly benefit and the general public will ultimately benefit from these wildlife conservation measures.)

Credentials/Documentation:   Only the agency that with primary management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources within the State may apply for these grants.

Pre-application Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Application procedures are spelled out in the "Federal Aid Grant Application Booklet" available electronically at: www.nctc.fws.gov/fedaid/fatrain. To receive a paper copy, contact the regional or local office.

Award Procedure:   The Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service approves or disapproves proposed projects. Regional offices are responsible for notification of grant approval to the grantee by return of a completed agreement.

Deadlines:   June 2002.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Approximately 60 working days after due date.

Appeals:   Appeals rest with the FWS Director. In the event of continued disagreement, final determination rests with the Secretary of the Interior.

Renewals:   Projects are funded on a one-time basis. Any requests for future funding must compete with requests for new projects.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   The Federal share of project costs is not to exceed 75 percent. Matching and cost-sharing requirements are discussed in 43 CFR Part 12, Section 12.64.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Funds are available until expended.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   A Performance Report is required for each grant or grant segment annually within 90 days after the end of the grant or segment period.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal 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:   Cost records must be maintained separately for each project. Records, accounts, and supporting documents must be retained for 3 years after submission of final request for reimbursement.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   14-5496-0-1-303.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $0; FY 02 est $40,000,000; and FY 03 est $50,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
Funds are available until expended.

It is anticipated that 30 grant proposals will be received and 28 awarded in fiscal year 2002.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002, Public Law 107- 63, Title I, language on Landowner Incentive Program, and 43 CFR 12.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   See Regional Agency Offices.

Region 1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Native American Liaison Eastside Federal Complex 911 NE 11th Avenue Portland, OR 97232-4181

Region 2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native American Liaison 500 Gold Avenue, SW P.O. Box 1306 Albuquerque, NM 87103-1306

Region 3 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native American Liaison 1 Federal Drive Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4080

Region 4 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native American Liaison 1875 Century Boulevard Atlanta, GA 30345

Region 5 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native American Liaison 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035-9589

Region 6 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native American Liaison P.O. Box 25486 Denver, CO 80225

Region 7 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native American Liaison 1011 East Tudor Road Anchorage, AK 99503-6199

Region 8 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tribal Partnerships Specialist Habitat Restoration Division 2800 Cottage Way, Rm W-2606 Sacramento, CA 95825.

Headquarters Office:  
Chief, Policy and Programs Division Chief, Policy and Programs Division, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, MS: WSFR, 5275 Leesburg Pike, , Falls Church, Virginia 22041-3803 Phone: (703)358-2231

Web Site Address:  
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not available.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Projects must be submitted by the State agency having responsibility for management of the State's wildlife resources. Projects are selected and approved based on criteria contained in the FWS Director's guidelines and 43 CFR 12.