To develop and implement programs for the benefit of
wildlife and their habitat, including species that are not hunted or fished.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Formula Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Approved activities include those which develop and implement programs for the
benefit of wildlife and their habitat, including species that are not hunted
or fished.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: Participation is limited to
fish and wildlife agencies of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the
United States Virgin Islands.
Beneficiary Eligibility: Anyone/General Public
(While direct participation is limited to fish and wildlife agencies, the
general public will ultimately benefit from these wildlife conservation
measures.)
Credentials/Documentation: Only that agency that
has management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources within the State
may apply for these grants. No State, territory, or other jurisdiction shall
receive a grant unless it has developed or committed to develop by October 1,
2005, a comprehensive wildlife conservation plan, which must consider the
broad range of the State, territory, or other jurisdiction's wildlife and
associated habitats, with appropriate priority placed on those species with
the greatest conservation need and taking into consideration the relative
level of funding available for the conservation of those species.
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. A paper copy is available
from the Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Federal Aid by calling 703-
358-2156.
Award Procedure: The Regional Director of the
Fish and Wildlife Service or his or her designee approves or disapproves
proposed projects. Regional offices are responsible for notification of grant
approval to the grantee by return of a completed agreement.
Deadlines: None.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Approximately
15 working days after receipt, dependent upon the complexity of the Grant
Agreement.
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 renewed on an annual basis
through approval of a grant agreement.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: The Department of
the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for FY 02, Public Law
107-63, Title I requires that: (1) The Secretary of the Interior shall, after
deducting administrative expenses and $5,000,000 for Tribal grants, apportion
the remaining amount in the following manner: (A) to the District of Columbia
and to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, each a sum equal to not more than
one-half of 1 percent thereof: and (B) to Guam, American Samoa, the United
States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
each a sum equal to not more than one- fourth of one percent thereof. (2) The
Secretary shall apportion the remaining amount in the following manner: (A)
one-third of which is based on the ratio to which the land area of such State
bears to the total land area of all such States; and (B) two-thirds of which
is based on the ratio to which the population of such State bears to the total
population of all such States. The amounts apportioned under this paragraph
shall be adjusted equitably so that no State shall be apportioned a sum which
is less than 1 percent of the amount available for apportionment under this
paragraph for any fiscal year or more than 5 percent of such amount: The
Federal share of project costs is not to exceed 75 percent for a planning
grant, nor 50 percent for an implementation grant. Matching and cost-sharing
requirements are discussed in 43 CFR Part 12, Section 12.64.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:
Apportioned funds are available for obligation by the State for a period of 2
years. Reimbursements can be requested on a continuing basis as expenditures
are verified. Balances remaining unobligated after the period of availability,
or unspent after the final grant closeout are returned to the Service for
reapportionment.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports: A Performance Report is required for each
grant 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
receive 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 the final request for
reimbursement.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification: 14-5474-0-1-303.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $0; FY 02 est
$80,000,000; and FY 03 est $55,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: The
smallest formula grant apportionments will go to the territories of Guam,
American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands who will have an estimated $194,000 available for
obligation. The largest formula grant apportionments will go to Alaska,
California and Texas who will have an estimated $3,800,000 available for
obligation. The average apportionment for the 56 States and Territories is
$1.38 million.
It is anticipated that at least 56 grant proposals will be received and
approved in fiscal year 2002 (an average of one per State).
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for FY 02,
Public Law 107-63 language on State Wildlife Grants, and 43 CFR Part 12.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: See Catalog address
Appendix IV for addresses.
Headquarters Office: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240.
Contact: Chief, Division of Federal Aid. Telephone: (703) 358-2156, Fax
(703)358-1837.
Web Site Address: None.
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
New program. Not available.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Projects must be submitted by the State agency having responsibility for
management of the State's wildlife resources. The State agency selects the
projects that are submitted for funding under the program. Projects are
approved if they meet the basic criteria contained in the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Director's guidelines and 43 CFR Part 12.
