[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7788-7789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3160]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Success With Species at Risk Initiative

AGENCY: National Biological Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The National Biological Service (NBS), Office of Inventory and 
Monitoring, is establishing a Success With Species at Risk Initiative 
to develop scientific information on the status and trends of sensitive 
species and ecosystems, particularly with respect to the relationship 
of habitats to abundance and distribution, and with special emphasis on 
producing information needed by or useful to public and private land 
managers.
    The goal of the initiative is to fund projects, on a wide range of 
taxa, that will generate information and alternatives that lead to the 
stabilization of declining populations of sensitive species, and 
special attention will be focused on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Category 2 species list compiled under the authority of the Endangered 
Species Act. Information will be shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service for use in listing determinations. Information may also lead to 
removal of species from the candidate list.

DATES: Completed project proposals and Federal Assistance forms 
(Standard Form 424, etc.) must be received by the NBS within 45 days 
after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Notification 
of project selection and funding will be made as early as April 26, 
1995.

ADDRESSES: Parties interested in this initiative should request an 
information package from: National Biological Service, Mail Stop 3660-
MIB, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20240, attn. John Mosesso or 
Wendy Kuhne.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Mosesso or Wendy Kuhne, Mail Stop 
3660-MIB, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20240, E-Mail: 
[email protected] or [email protected], or telephone 202-482-
3774.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Purpose

    Notice is hereby given that the National Biological Service (NBS), 
Office of Inventory and Monitoring, is establishing a Success With 
Species at Risk Initiative to develop scientific information on the 
status and trends of sensitive species and ecosystems, particularly 
with respect to the relationship of habitats to abundance and 
distribution, and with special emphasis on producing information needed 
by or useful to public and private land managers.
    This notice is to provide an opportunity for scientists, 
conservationists and land managers from academia, State agencies, 
private organizations and industry, and Native American Tribes and 
Nations to participate in this initiative through research, inventory 
and monitoring activities. The initiative involves short-term projects 
that generate information on sensitive species and particularly those 
presently listed on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Category 2 
species list.
    The goal of the initiative is to fund projects, on a wide range of 
taxa, that will generate information and alternatives that lead to the 
stabilization of declining populations of sensitive species, and 
special attention will be focused on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Category 2 species list compiled under the authority of the Endangered 
Species Act. Information will be shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service for use in listing determinations. Information may also lead to 
removal of species from the candidate list.
    This initiative is conducted in furtherance of the Secretary's 
obligations under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 USC 742a-742j, 
as amended) and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 USC 661-
667e, as amended).

B. Background

    The NBS is an independent science bureau in the Department of the 
Interior (DOI) that gathers and analyzes biological information and 
serves as an information clearinghouse, providing broad access to the 
widest possible range of factual data on the status and trends of the 
Nation's biota and the potential effects of land management choices.
    The Secretary of the Interior issued Order No. 3185 on January 5, 
1995, changing the name of the ``National Biological Survey'' to the 
``National Biological Service'' to more accurately reflect the mission 
of the agency. Sec. 4 of Order No. 3185 reads: ``The primary role of 
the NBS is to meet the biological research needs of other organizations 
within the Department of the Interior, other Federal agencies, States, 
local entities, Tribes, and private and nonprofit users.'' The 
initiative addresses the role of NBS by gathering scientific 
information on sensitive species and their habitats. This information 
serves public and private landowners who are interested in sustaining 
biological resources. It also provides understanding to help avoid 
conflicts that can both stymie development and degrade natural 
habitats.
    The Success With Species at Risk Initiative will develop scientific 
information and alternatives to assist Federal, State, and other land 
managers in their decisions regarding the protection of sensitive 
species and habitats and to allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to 
remove Category 2 species which do not merit further consideration.

C. Availability of Funds

    Through this initiative, the NBS invites proposals for funding for 
Fiscal Year 1995. The total funding available for the fiscal year is up 
to $1 million. Monies will be provided to successful applicants on a 
competitive basis. In order to maximize the number of proposals there 
is no minimum project cost. The maximum project cost will be $100,000. 
When the biology of the study species dictates, monies awarded in 
Fiscal Year 1995 may be carried over into FY 1996, for the purposes of 
completing on-going field research.

D. Eligibility Requirements

    The NBS will accept project proposals for this initiative from 
State agencies, private and industry groups, academic institutions, and 
Native American Tribes and Nations. Proposals will be evaluated by NBS 
scientists with respect to their scientific merit, partnership 
opportunities, quality of investigators and institutions, potential for 
providing useful information to resource managers, ecosystem and 
landscape benefits, potential for conservation agreements, 
possibilities for cost sharing, and demonstration of progress or 
successful completion in 1995.

E. Application Process

    Parties interested in participating in this initiative should 
request an information package which will include detailed application 
forms, Federal Assistance forms (Standard Form 424, etc.), proposal 
format requirements, etc. from: [[Page 7789]] 
Mail:  National Biological Service, Mail Stop 3660-MIB, 1849 C. Street 
NW, Washington, D.C. 20240, attn. John Mosesso or Wendy Kuhne, or E-
Mail: [email protected] [email protected] or Telephone: 202-482-
3774.

F. Dates

    Completed project proposals and Federal Assistance forms (Standard 
Form 424 etc.) must be received by the NBS on or before March 27, 1995.
    Notification of project selection and funding will be made as early 
as April 26, 1995.
F. Eugene Hester,
Deputy Director, National Biological Service.
[FR Doc. 95-3160 Filed 2-8-95; 8:45 am]
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