[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 179 (Wednesday, September 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49606-49608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24803]


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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