[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 172 (Friday, September 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47314-47315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23844]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


North American Wetlands Conservation Act: Request for Small 
Grants Proposals for 1999

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is currently entertaining 
proposals that request match funding for wetland conservation projects 
under the Small Grants program. Projects must meet the purposes of the 
North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989, as amended. The 
Service will give funding priority to projects from new grant 
applicants with new partners, where the project ensures long-term 
conservation benefits. However, previous Act grantees are eligible to 
receive funding, and can compete successfully on the basis of strong 
project resource values.

DATES: Proposal must bear postmarks no later than Friday, December 4, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Address proposals to: North American Waterfowl and Wetlands

[[Page 47315]]

Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 
110, Arlington, Virginia 22203, Attn: Small Grants Coordinator.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Keith A. Morehouse, Small Grants 
Coordinator, or the office secretary, North American Waterfowl and 
Wetlands Office, 703/358-1784; facsimile 703/358-2282.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the 1989 North American 
Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), as amended, is to promote long-term 
conservation of North American wetland ecosystems and the waterfowl and 
other migratory birds, fish and wildlife that depend upon such habitat 
through partnerships. Principal conservation actions supported by NAWCA 
are acquisition, enhancement and restoration of wetlands and wetlands-
associated habitat.
    In 1996, the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Council) 
initiated a Small Grants program with an allocation of $250,000 per 
year. The objective of this program is to promote long-term wetlands 
conservation activities through encouraging participation by new 
grantees and partners who may not otherwise be able to compete in the 
regular grants program. It is also hoped that successful participants 
in the Small Grants program will be encouraged to participate in the 
NAWCA-based Standard Grants program. The Small Grants program became 
fully operational in 1998 with an allocation of $500,000. Over the 
first three years of the program, about 275 proposals requesting a 
total of approximately $8.3 million competed for funding. Ultimately, 
34 projects were funded. For 1999, with the approval of the Migratory 
Bird Conservation Commission, the Council has again made the Small 
Grants program operational at a base level of $500,000.
    To be considered for funding in the 1999 cycle, proposals must have 
a grant request no greater than $50,000. All wetland conservation 
proposals are accepted that meet the requirements of the Act. However, 
considering appropriate proposal resource values, funding priority is 
given to projects from new grant applicants (individuals or 
organizations who have never received a NAWCA grant) with new partners, 
where the project ensures long-term conservation benefits. As suggested 
by the former, this does not preclude former NAWCA grant recipients 
from receiving Small Grants funding; ultimately, project resource value 
is the critical factor in deciding which projects receive funding.
    In addition, proposals must represent on-the-ground projects, and 
any overhead in the project budget must constitute 10 percent or less 
of the grant amount. The anticipated magnitude of wetlands and wildlife 
resources benefits that will result from project execution is an 
important factor in proposal evaluation, and there should be a 
reasonable balance between acreages of wetlands and wetlands-associated 
uplands.
    Please keep in mind that NAWCA and matching funds may only be 
applied to wetlands acquisition, creation, enhancement, and/or 
restoration; they may not be applied to signage, displays, trails or 
other educational features, materials and equipment, even though the 
goal of the project may ultimately be to support wetland conservation 
education curricula. Projects oriented toward education are not 
ordinarily eligible for NAWCA funding because education is not a 
primary purpose of the Act. However, useful project outcomes can 
include educational benefits resulting from conservation actions. 
Research is also not a primary purpose of the Act, and research 
proposals are not considered for funding.
    Even though requiring less total information than those submitted 
for the regular grants program, Small Grant proposals must have clear 
explanations and meet the basic purposes given above and the 1:1 or 
greater non-Federal matching requirements of the NAWCA. Small Grants 
projects must also be consistent with Council guidelines, objectives 
and policies. All non-Federal matching funds and proposed expenditures 
of grant funds must be consistent with Appendix A of the Small Grants 
instructions, ``Eligibility Requirements for Match of NAWCA Grant and 
Non-Federal Funds.'' All applicants must submit a completed Standard 
Form 424, Application For Federal Assistance. Small Grants 
Instructional Booklets contain forms and instructions for the Standard 
Form 424; booklets are available at the address provided or by E-mail, 
as explained later in this notice.
    Small Grants proposals may be submitted prior to the due date but 
must bear postmarks no later than Friday, December 4, 1998. Address 
submitted proposals as follows: North American Waterfowl and Wetlands 
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 
110, Arlington, VA 22203. Attn: Small Grants Coordinator.
    It is essential that applicants submit complete grant request 
packages to the North American Waterfowl and Wetlands Office (NAWWO), 
including all of the documentation of partners (partner letters) with 
funding pledge amounts. Information on funding in partner letters, 
i.e., amounts and description regarding use, must correspond with 
budget amounts in the budget table and any figures provided in the 
narrative.
    With the volume of proposals received, the NAWWO is not able to 
contact proposal sources to verify and/or request supplemental data 
and/or materials. Thus, those proposals lacking required information or 
containing conflicting information are subject to being declared 
ineligible and not further considered for funding.
    For more information, and/or to request the Small Grants 
instructional booklet, call the NAWWO office secretary at (703) 358-
1784, facsimile (703) 358-2282, or send E-mail to 
[email protected]. Small Grant application instructions are 
also available by E-mail, upon request.
    In conclusion, the Service requires that upon arrival in the NAWWO, 
proposal packages must be complete with regard to the information 
requested, in the format requested, and on time.
    The Service has submitted information collection requirements to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. On August 24, 
1998, OMB gave an emergency approval for this information collection 
requirement and assigned it approval number 1018-0100. An agency may 
not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a 
collection of information unless is displays a currently valid OMB 
control number. The information collection solicited: is necessary to 
gain a benefit in the form of a grant, as determined by the North 
American Wetlands Conservation Council and the Migratory Bird 
Conservation Commission; is necessary to determine the eligibility and 
relative value of wetlands projects; results in an approximate 
paperwork burden of 80 hours per application; and does not carry a 
premise of confidentiality. The information collections in this program 
will not be part of a system of records covered by the Privacy Act (5 
U.S.C. 552(a)).

    Dated: August 28, 1998.
John G. Rogers,
Deputy Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 98-23844 Filed 9-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M