[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7657-7660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2119]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


$50 Million FY 2001 Wildlife Conservation and Restoration 
Account, $50 Million FY 2001 State Wildlife Grants Program

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and description of processes to obtain 
grants.

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SUMMARY: Title IX of Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Act 
(Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Account) and Title VIII of the 
Interior Appropriations Act (Land Conservation, Preservation and 
Infrastructure Improvement) authorize two separate appropriations to 
provide grant funds to States and U.S. Territories to enhance fish and 
wildlife conservation and restoration.

DATES:   
--State program and plan descriptions are due by March 1, 2001.
--The Service will determine compliance with the criteria and initiate 
apportionments of Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program funds 
by April 1, 2001.
--States must submit proposals for the competitively-based State 
Wildlife Grants Program by May 1, 2001.
--The Service Director will determine which proposals are to be funded 
by July 1, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Kris E. LaMontagne, Chief, Division of Federal Aid, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 140, 
Arlington, VA 22003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kris E. LaMontagne, Chief, Division of 
Federal Aid, at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Descriptions of Both Programs

    Title IX of Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Act (Wildlife 
Conservation and Restoration Account) and Title VIII of the Interior 
Appropriations Act (Land Conservation, Preservation and Infrastructure 
Improvement) authorize two separate appropriations to provide grant 
funds to States and U.S. Territories to enhance fish and wildlife 
conservation and restoration.
    The Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Act provides $50 
million in FY 2001 by creating and authorizing a subaccount under the 
Pittman-Robertson Act for a Wildlife Conservation and Restoration 
Program, a formula-based apportionment to States and Territories 
similar to that in the existing Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration 
Programs. These funds are to be ``used for the development, revision, 
and implementation of wildlife conservation and restoration plans and 
programs * * * for the planning and implementation of its wildlife 
conservation and restoration program and wildlife conservation 
strategy, including wildlife conservation, wildlife conservation 
education, and wildlife-associated recreation projects. Priority for 
funding from the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration account shall be 
for those species with the greatest conservation need as defined by the 
State wildlife conservation and restoration program.''
    The Interior Appropriations Act provides $50 million for FY 2001 
for a State Wildlife Grants Program, a cost-shared, competitively 
awarded, project-based program. Report language accompanying the Act 
provides: ``The funds should not be distributed based on formula basis 
and every effort should be made to leverage the Federal funding to the 
maximum extent possible * * * the Service shall not provide a grant to 
any State unless the State has, or commits to develop * * * a required 
conservation plan.''
    The Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that States will use 
just one planning process to meet the criteria for the required 
conservation plans under the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations 
Act and the Interior Appropriations Act.

More Detailed Information on Due Dates

    State program and plan descriptions to satisfy the requirements for 
the FY 2001 Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program and the FY 
2001 State Wildlife Grants Program are due by March 1, 2001. The 
Service will determine compliance with the criteria no later than April 
1, 2001, and initiate apportionments of Wildlife Conservation and 
Restoration Program funds to those States whose Plan description 
satisfies the requirements of the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration 
Program. The Service will assist those States whose responses initially 
do not meet the statutory criteria in fulfilling these requirements.
    States must submit proposals for the competitively-based State 
Wildlife Grants Program by May 1, 2001. Only a State whose Program and 
Plan description was submitted and approved pursuant to the preceding 
paragraph may apply. The Service Director will determine no later than 
July 1, 2001, which proposals are to be funded.

Further Description of Eligibility for Funding for Both Programs

Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program (Commerce, Justice, State 
Appropriation Act)

    States and Territories shall not use Wildlife Conservation and 
Restoration Program funds to replace existing Federal Aid funds 
available to them. Funds may be used for new programs, including 
development of the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program and 
projects and enhancement of existing programs and projects. Priority 
for funding shall be for those species with the greatest conservation 
need as defined by the State or Territory's program. An agency is not 
eligible if ``sources of revenue'' available to it for the conservation 
of wildlife after January 1, 2000, are diverted.
    The Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program contains two 
program elements not found in the existing Wildlife Restoration 
(Pittman-Robertson Act) portion of the Federal Aid program, ``wildlife-
associated recreation'' and ``wildlife conservation education.'' 
Wildlife-associated recreation projects are those intended to meet the 
demand for outdoor activities associated with wildlife. This includes, 
but is not limited to, such activities as hunting and fishing, wildlife 
observation and wildlife photography, and projects such as construction 
or restoration of wildlife viewing areas, observation towers or 
platforms, trails, trail heads, water access points, and access for 
such activities and projects.
    Wildlife conservation education projects are intended to foster 
responsible natural resources stewardship and includes public outreach.

The State Plan Elements

    States and territories are to submit a description of their plan by 
March 1, 2001, and if approved, qualifies a State to receive funds 
under both the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program and the 
State Wildlife Grants Program. Submission of this information 
constitutes a commitment by the State to develop a Wildlife 
Conservation Strategy within five years. Each Plan must include a 
description of the four statutory elements of the Program as follows:
    1. The State fish and wildlife agency must have the authority to 
develop and implement the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration 
Program. Under this requirement, a State should cite existing statutory 
or constitutional authority to protect and manage wildlife. Such 
authority should include authority that

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covers both game and nongame species as well as authority to undertake 
wildlife-associated recreation projects and wildlife-conservation 
education projects. If the State wildlife agency does not have 
authority for any of these items but another State agency does, the 
State wildlife agency might still qualify if it were delegated 
``overall responsibility and accountability'' for the Wildlife 
Conservation and Restoration program by the other agency.
    2. Eligible projects include:
    (a) The development and implementation of new wildlife conservation 
projects and/or projects that supplement existing wildlife programs, 
with appropriate consideration to all wildlife and priority for those 
species with the greatest conservation need, as defined by the State or 
Territory's program. As a practical matter, a State must describe how 
the State determines or will determine which species are in the most 
need of assistance, and give a description of how particular game and 
nongame species benefit directly from a program or project;
    (b) Wildlife-associated recreation projects; including how the new 
funds will be used to develop and implement a program and projects to 
address wildlife-associated recreation needs; and,
    (c) Wildlife conservation education projects; including how the new 
funds will be used to develop and implement a program and projects to 
address wildlife conservation education needs. No funds from the 
Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program subaccount may be used 
for wildlife conservation education efforts, projects, or programs that 
promote or encourage opposition to the regulated taking of wildlife.
    3. How the State involved the public in the development, revision, 
and implementation of the program or plan and how it intends to involve 
the public in development of a comprehensive strategy over the next 
five years.
    4. What is the State's commitment to development of a wildlife 
conservation strategy? Within five years of the date of their initial 
apportionment, the Service requires States to develop and begin 
implementation of a wildlife conservation strategy based upon the best 
available scientific information that:
    (a) uses such information on the distribution and abundance of 
species of wildlife, including declining species as the State fish and 
wildlife department deems appropriate, that show the diversity and 
health of wildlife of the State;
    (b) identifies the extent and condition of wildlife habitats and 
community types essential to the conservation of species, focusing on 
species identified in a State's Wildlife Conservation and Restoration 
Program;
    (c) identifies the problems that may adversely affect the species 
or their habitats, and provides for priority research and surveys to 
identify factors that may help in restoration and more effective 
conservation of such species and their habitats;
    (d) determines those actions that they should take to conserve 
species and their habitats identified in the State's Wildlife 
Conservation and Restoration Program as having the greatest 
conservation need and establishes priorities for implementing such 
conservation actions;
    (e) provides for periodic monitoring of such species and their 
habitats and the effectiveness of the conservation actions taken, and 
for adapting conservation actions as appropriate to respond to new 
information or changing conditions;
    (f) provides for the review of the State wildlife conservation 
strategy and, if appropriate, revision at intervals of not more than 10 
years; and
    (g) during the development, implementation, review, and revision of 
the wildlife conservation strategy, provides for coordination by the 
State fish and wildlife department with Federal, State, and local 
agencies and Indian Tribes that manage significant areas of land or 
water within the State, or administer programs that significantly 
affect the conservation of species or their habitats as identified in a 
State's Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program Plan.
    The Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program is statutorily 
established as a subaccount of the existing Federal Aid in Wildlife 
Restoration Fund. Except as expressly provided otherwise, the 
disbursement of funds for the Federal share of individual projects 
approved under this program will be conducted in the same manner as, 
and under the existing rules and regulations of, the Federal Aid in 
Wildlife Restoration program. Not more than 3 percent of the funds in 
the account are available for administration and execution of the 
program. Funding under this program will remain available for 
obligation for three fiscal years.
    For the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program we base the 
statutory formula for apportionment one-third in the ratio that the 
land area of a State bears to the total land area of all States and 
two-thirds in the ratio that the population that a State bears to the 
overall population of all States with no State receiving more than 5 
percent or less than 1 percent of the amount available. The District of 
Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto will receive one-half of 1 
percent and Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands will receive one-fourth of 
1 percent.

                   FY2001 Apportionments for $50 Million Wildlife Grants: C-J-S Appropriation
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                           State                                Land area       Population *         Amount
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Alabama...................................................            51,718         4,447,100           753,573
Alaska....................................................           587,875           626,932         2,425,000
Arizona...................................................           114,006         5,130,632         1,148,630
Arkansas..................................................            53,182         2,673,400           566,536
California................................................           158,647        33,871,648         2,425,000
Colorado..................................................           104,100         4,301,261         1,006,751
Connecticut...............................................             5,006         3,405,565           485,000
Delaware..................................................             2,026           783,600           485,000
Florida...................................................            58,620        15,982,378         2,054,361
Georgia...................................................            58,930         8,186,453         1,200,808
Hawaii....................................................             6,459         1,211,537           485,000
Idaho.....................................................            83,574         1,293,953           571,398
Illinois..................................................            56,343        12,419,293         1,651,820
Indiana...................................................            36,185         6,080,485           852,921
Iowa......................................................            56,276         2,926,324           610,179

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Kansas....................................................            82,282         2,688,418           717,720
Kentucky..................................................            40,411         4,041,769           651,008
Louisiana.................................................            47,719         4,468,976           735,422
Maine.....................................................            33,128         1,274,923           485,000
Maryland..................................................            10,455         5,296,486           634,704
Massachusetts.............................................             8,262         6,349,097           738,898
Michigan..................................................            58,513         9,938,444         1,390,843
Minnesota.................................................            84,397         4,919,479           973,316
Mississippi...............................................            47,695         2,844,658           557,126
Missouri..................................................            69,709         5,595,211           971,961
Montana...................................................           147,046           902,195           854,590
Nebraska..................................................            77,359         1,711,263           585,236
Nevada....................................................           110,567         1,998,257           787,363
New Hampshire.............................................             9,283         1,235,786           485,000
New Jersey................................................             7,790         8,414,350           963,013
New Mexico................................................           121,598         1,819,046           824,391
New York..................................................            49,122        18,976,457         2,333,978
North Carolina............................................            52,672         8,049,313         1,153,607
North Dakota..............................................            70,704           642,200           485,000
Ohio......................................................            41,329        11,353,140         1,457,720
Oklahoma..................................................            69,903         3,450,654           737,718
Oregon....................................................            97,052         3,421,399           874,020
Pennsylvania..............................................            45,310        12,281,054         1,579,961
Rhode Island..............................................             1,213         1,048,319           485,000
South Carolina............................................            31,117         4,012,012           599,985
South Dakota..............................................            77,121           754,844           485,000
Tennessee.................................................            42,145         5,689,283           840,636
Texas.....................................................           266,873        20,851,820         2,425,000
Utah......................................................            84,904         2,233,169           681,257
Vermont...................................................             9,615           608,827           485,000
Virginia..................................................            40,598         7,078,515           985,074
Washington................................................            68,126         5,894,121           996,614
West Virginia.............................................            24,232         1,808,344           485,000
Wisconsin.................................................            56,145         5,363,675           876,862
Wyoming...................................................            97,819           453,588           485,000
District of Columbia......................................  ................  ................           242,500
Puerto Rico...............................................  ................  ................           242,500
Guam......................................................  ................  ................           121,250
Virgin Islands............................................  ................  ................           121,250
American Samoa............................................  ................  ................           121,250
N. Mariana Islands........................................  ................  ................           121,250
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
      Subtotal............................................         3,615,161       280,809,653        48,500,000
Administration............................................  ................  ................         1,500,000
                                                           -----------------------------------------------------
      Total...............................................  ................  ................       50,000,000
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* Population Figures are the April 1, 2000 U.S. Census Bureau Figures (http://www.census.gov/population/www.cen2000/respop.html)

    No more than 10 percent of the amount apportioned to a State may be 
used for wildlife-associated recreation.
    Once the Service has approved the State Program and Plan, funds are 
available to make payments on a project that is a segment of the 
State's Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program. The Service may 
also advance funds to a State for project payments and program 
development.
    The intent of this program is to provide funding to the States for 
additional wildlife conservation projects. These funds should be 
additive to existing sources and not serve as a substitute to these 
sources. No State will be eligible to receive funding under the 
Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program if they have diverted 
funding provided to it after January 1, 2000, for any purpose other 
than the administration of the State fish and wildlife agency.

State Wildlife Grants Program (Interior Appropriation Act)

    The State Wildlife Grants Program will provide funding to States 
for on-the-ground conservation projects that implement existing or 
future planning efforts to stabilize, restore, enhance, and protect 
species and habitats of conservation concern. These funds are available 
for obligation until expended. The program will focus on projects that: 
(1) address the needs of species and their habitats most in need of 
conservation, (2) address species conservation needs that are most in 
need of funding, and (3) leverage Federal funding to the maximum extent 
possible. To be eligible for this grant program States must have or 
agree to develop wildlife conservation plans for the conservation of 
the State's full array of wildlife and their habitats. The Fish and 
Wildlife Service has determined that a strategy developed to meet the 
criteria of the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Act will 
satisfy the planning requirements under the Interior Appropriations 
Act. Thus, submission and approval of a Wildlife Conservation and 
Restoration Program plan will make a State eligible to compete for 
funding under the State Wildlife Grant Programs.
    The Service may make grants to support development of wildlife

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conservation plans. Assuming annual appropriations at the $50 million 
level, the Service will use a portion of available funds, not to exceed 
20 percent, for grants to States to support plan/strategy development, 
subject to State cost sharing.
    The Service will also use a portion of available funds, not to 
exceed 10 percent, for small project grants, recognizing that small 
projects that address a more localized high priority conservation need 
or take advantage of a short-term opportunity would otherwise not 
compete successfully with large scale, multi-faceted, and long term 
conservation projects.
    Proposals for conservation projects, as opposed to planning 
proposals, must result in measurable on-the-ground habitat restoration 
or conservation. Project objectives should be consistent with existing 
conservation plans and strategies, such as Partners in Flight plans, 
the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Shorebird Conservation 
Plans, and endangered species recovery plans. The Service will give 
priority to projects based on a set of ranking factors, including such 
items as: the extent of threats to habitat used by the species 
benefitted by the project; whether a project will benefit multiple 
species; whether a project brings in multiple partners, particularly 
partners across State lines, tribal partners or international partners; 
and the extent to which a project leverages federal funds. A project's 
total score will be a major factor in project selection, but geographic 
balance, feasibility, urgency of funding needs, the amount of funding 
required by a project compared with the total amount of funding 
available and other such factors may be used to select the final 
projects.
    The Service will develop application procedures, standardized 
project proposal outlines and the criteria that will be used to rank 
proposals in coordination with the States and provide these to 
interested States when complete. Proposals will compete nationally for 
funding. A joint Federal-State panel will be assembled to assess and 
recommend priorities for proposals. Application procedures, 
standardized project proposal outlines, and the criteria that will be 
used to rank proposals will be available on or before March 1, 2001.

    Dated: January 18, 2001.
Jamie Rappaport Clark,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 01-2119 Filed 1-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P