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Consideration of Alternative Methods of Funding National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Projects Through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration and Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Programs
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: September 16, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 179)]
[Notices]
[Page 49606-49608]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16se98-73]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Consideration of Alternative Methods of Funding National Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Projects Through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish
Restoration and Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Programs
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Service is inviting comments from the public on different
methods of funding important fish and wildlife conservation projects
through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration and Federal Aid in
Sport Fish Restoration programs to replace the existing procedures.
Existing grants,
[[Page 49607]]
projects approved for funding in Fiscal Year 1998, and projects
presently being considered for funding in Fiscal Year 1999 will not be
affected by this notice.
DATES: Comments due November 16, 1998.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Federal Aid, MS
140 ARLSQ, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia, 22203.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Tom Taylor, Division of Federal Aid, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service; (703) 358-2156.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
What Are These Grants?
The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration and Federal Aid in Sport
Fish Restoration Acts authorize the Service to use up to 8 percent of
the receipts accruing to the Wildlife Restoration fund and up to 6
percent of the Sport Fish Restoration fund for administering the
programs. The remaining funds are apportioned to State fish and
wildlife agencies for fish and wildlife restoration and management
projects. Some of the money deducted for administration has been used
at the Service's discretion for grants to fund important national fish
and wildlife projects within the scope of the Acts that provide
collective benefits for a majority of the States. This year $2 million
is available for fisheries projects and $2 million is available for
wildlife projects.
Why Are You Considering Alternatives?
The Service believes the present program needs to be eliminated or
improved because it is too time consuming and inefficient to administer
given the size of the program compared to the larger and more important
statutory State grant program. This State grant program provides over
$425 million each year for fish and wildlife restoration and management
projects and needs more attention to policy development and
coordination. In addition, different expectations and competition among
applicants detract from harmonious partnerships among the Service, the
States, and National conservation organizations.
Who May Apply for These Grants?
States, local governments, and charitable and educational
institutions are eligible to apply for grants. Federal agencies may not
receive grants, but may receive funding by transfers of funds through
cooperative agreements.
How Can I Apply for a Grant?
Annually, we publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing
procedures for submitting project proposals, deadlines, and the amount
of money available for Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration projects.
The last procedures were published on April 10, 1998. Copies of the
procedures are available from the Service at the address shown on this
notice.
How Were Administrative Grants Managed in the Past?
We have followed procedures outlined below:
a. The Grants-in-Aid Committee (GIAC) of the International
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA) provided us with a
list of focus areas. The IAFWA is a national nonprofit organization
representing the State fish and wildlife agencies who are the statutory
recipients of the programs. Focus areas are types of priority projects
on which States want to use grant funds.
b. We publish the procedures for applying for grants, eligibility
criteria, focus areas, and due dates in the Federal Register about
April.
c. Applicants must send an application to us by the due date which
is usually in May or June.
d. We review all project proposals to determine if they are
eligible for funding. Proposals that do not meet the standards
published in the announcement are judged ineligible. Proposals that do
meet the criteria are sent to the State members of the GIAC for
ranking. We send letters to each applicant informing them whether their
proposal was found eligible or ineligible.
e. The State members of the GIAC rate each proposal as high,
medium, low, or do not fund. Their rankings are sent to us for
compilation by the end of August.
f. We convert the rankings to a numerical score 0 to 3, calculate
the average score for each proposal, and list the proposals in
descending order of their averages.
g. The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies,
based on recommendations of the GIAC, recommends to us the projects
that best address State needs and that should be funded.
h. The Service Director reviews the recommendations of the IAFWA
and makes a final decision on which grants to fund.
i. We negotiate final terms of the grant agreement and award the
grant to the successful applicants.
What Alternatives to the Present Process Are You Considering?
Alternative 1. No Program
a. There will be no national administrative grants program.
b. Funds traditionally available for this purpose ($2 million each
for Sport Fish Restoration and the Wildlife Restoration Programs for
Fiscal Years 1999) will be apportioned to the States.
c. States may cooperate among themselves on a regional or national
level to fund projects of common interest using funds apportioned to
individual State.
Alternative 2. Enhanced Existing Program With Federal Register
Notice
a. IAFWA technical committees will identify specific national fish
and wildlife conservation needs with all committee members having
voting privileges.
b. National conservation needs developed by the IAFWA technical
committees will be reviewed and prioritized by the GIAC and recommended
to the IAFWA business meeting for approval.
c. The approved list of needs will then be forwarded to the Service
Division of Federal Aid that will publish a Federal Register notice
soliciting proposals to address specific national fish and wildlife
conservation needs.
d. Proposals received by the Service will be forwarded to the IAFWA
that will distribute them to the appropriate technical committees
(again, all committee members having voting privileges) for review of
eligibility and the selection of projects to be forwarded to the GIAC
for ranking.
e. State members of the GIAC will rank all proposals, select those
recommended for fundng, and forward their recommendations to the IAFWA
business meeting for approval.
f. Proposals approved by the IAFWA will be submitted to the Service
Director for final approval.
g. The Service Division of Federal Aid, will award and administer
grants and cooperative agreements for approved projects.
Alternative 3. Enhance Existing Program Without Federal Notice
a. IAFWA technical committees will identify specific national fish
and wildlife conservation needs with all Committee members having
voting privileges. We will advance funds to the IAFWA to cover costs of
administration for this and other steps of the process.
b. National fish and wildlife conservation needs developed by the
IAFWA technical committees will be reviewed and prioritized by GIAC and
recommended to the IAFWA business meeting for approval.
c. The IAFWA will then directly solicit proposals addressing the
[[Page 49608]]
approved list of needs. Proposals received will be forwarded by the
IAFWA to the appropriate technical committees (again, all committee
members having voting privileges) for review of eligibility and the
selection of projects to be returned to the GIAC for ranking.
d. State members of the GIAC will rank all proposals, select those
recommended for funding, and forward their recommendations to the IAFWA
business meeting for approval.
e. Proposals approved by the IAFWA will be submitted to the Service
Director for final approval.
f. The Service Division of Federal Aid, will award and administer
grants and cooperative agreements for approved projects.
Alternative 4. Comprehensive Project Grant
a. IAFWA technical committees will identify specific national fish
and wildlife conservation needs with all committee members having
voting privileges.
b. National conservation needs developed by the IAFWA technical
committees will be reviewed and prioritized by the GIAC and recommended
to the IAFWA business meeting for approval.
c. The IAFWA will then directly solicit proposals addressing the
approved list of needs.
d. Proposals received will be forwarded by the IAFWA to the
appropriate IAFWA technical committees (again, all committee members
having voting privileges) for review of eligibility and the selection
of projects to be returned to the GIAC for ranking.
e. State members of the GIAC will rank all proposals, select those
recommended for funding, and forward their recommendations to the IAFWA
business meeting for approval.
f. The IAFWA will submit to the Service a single annual grant
proposal that identifies the approved specific projects to be funded
for both the Sport Fish Restoration and the Wildlife Restoration
Programs.
g. Upon Service approval of the grant proposals, the IAFWA will
administer funding for approved projects. The Service will advance
funds to the GIAC to implement the grant proposal and cover costs of
administration.
h. IAFWA will submit to the Service performance reports and
financial status reports detailing expenditures associated with the
individual projects funded by the comprehensive grants.
Alternative 5. Comprehensive Grant To Fund National Fish and
Wildlife Needs
a. IAFWA technical committees will identify specific national fish
and wildlife conservation needs with all committee members having
voting privileges.
b. National fish and wildlife conservation needs developed by the
IAFWA technical committees will be reviewed and prioritized by the GIAC
and recommended to the IAFWA business meeting for approval.
c. The IAFWA will submit to the Service a single annual grant
proposal that lists specific national fish and wildlife conservation
needs for both the Sport Fish Restoration and Wildlife Restoration
Programs.
d. Upon Service approval of the grant proposal, the IAFWA will
directly solicit proposals to address the national fish and wildlife
conservation needs identified in the grant.
e. Funds will be advanced to the IAFWA to implement the grant
proposal and cover costs of administration.
f. IAFWA will submit to the Service performance reports and
financial status reports detailing expenditures associated with the
comprehensive grant.
Will You Consider Other Alternatives and Ideas?
Yes, we are interested in any thoughts or suggestions you have on
improving the existing process.
Dated: September 10, 1998.
Jamie Rappaport Clark,
Director.
[FR Doc. 98-24803 Filed 9-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M