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.

OBJECTIVES:

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:  
Range is $30,000 to $3,000,000; Average $500,000.

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 Regional Agency Offices. U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Region Regional Contact Information:

Region 1: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Migratory Birds & State Programs WSFRP 911 NE 11th Avenue Portland, OR 97232-4181 Contact Person: Karla Drewsen 503-231-2389 karla_drewsen@fws.gov

Region 2: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 500 Gold Avenue, SW Albuquerque, NM 87103 Contact Person: Vanessa Martinez 505 248-7452505-248-7459 vanessa_martinez@fws.gov

Region 3: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990 Bloomington, MN 55437-1458 Contact Person: Jessica Piispanen 612-713-5142 jessica_piispanen@fws.gov

Region 4: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and the U.S. Virgin Islands U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 240 Atlanta, GA 30345 Contact Person: Diana Swan 404-679-7058 diana_swan@fws.gov

Region 5: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 300 Westgate Center Drive Hadley, MA 01035 Contact Person: Dee Blanton 413-253-8513 dee_blanton@fws.gov

Region 6: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center Denver, Colorado 80225 Contact Person: Amanda Horvath 303-236-4414 amanda_horvath@fws.gov

Region 7: Alaska U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 261 Anchorage, AK 99503 Contact Person: Trent Liebich 907-786-3696 trent_liebich@fws.gov

Region 8: California and Nevada U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 2800 Cottage Way, W-1729 Sacramento, CA 95825 Contact Person: Bart Prose 916-978-6152 bart_prose@fws.gov.

Headquarters Office:  
Director, Policy and Programs, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program – Division of Policy and Programs 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: WSFR , Falls Church, Virginia 22041-3803 Phone: (703) 358-2156.

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

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.