[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 110 (Friday, June 7, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39414-39419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-14257]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

RIN 1018-AI55


Proposed Implementation Guidelines for Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 
Landowner Incentive Program (Non Tribal Portion) for States, 
Territories and the District of Columbia

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act 2002, allocated $40 million from the Land and Water 
Conservation Fund for conservation grants to States, the District of 
Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, the 
Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, (hereafter referred to as 
States) and Tribes under a Landowner Incentive Program (LIP). The U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will address the Tribal component 
of LIP under a separate Federal Register notice.

DATES: For consideration, interested parties should submit comments on 
the policies or the information collection in this announcement to the 
appropriate addresses below by July 8, 2002. For the information 
collection, OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove information 
collections but may respond after 30 days.

ADDRESSES: For non-tribal LIP comments only, Kris E. LaMontagne, Chief, 
Division of Federal Aid, U.S. Fish

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and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 140, Arlington, 
VA 22203. For Paperwork Reduction Act, send comments for the 
Information Collection portion only to Interior Desk Officer, Attn: 
1018-0109, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503, send a copy of the comment to U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Information Collection Clearance Officer, 4401 North 
Fairfax Drive, Room 224, Arlington, VA 22203.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For LIP grant information for the 
States contact Kris E. LaMontagne, Chief, Division of Federal Aid, at 
the above address or call (703) 358-2156. For LIP grant information for 
the Tribes contact Pat Durham, Office of Native American Liaison, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 1849 C Street NW., Mail Stop 3251, 
Washington, DC 22203 or call (202) 208-4133. For information on the 
Paperwork Reduction Act Information Collection Approval contact Rebecca 
Mullin, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 224, Arlington, VA 
22203.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Service is soliciting comments from individuals, government 
agencies, the scientific community, environmental groups, industry, or 
any other interested party concerning the proposed program 
implementation. All comments received will be considered as long as 
they are not anonymous.
    The Service will make all comments received in response to this 
Notice available for public review during regular business hours at the 
Division of Federal Aid in Arlington, Virginia (see ADDRESSES). If a 
respondent wishes his or her name or address to be withheld from public 
view, we will honor these wishes to the extent allowable by law, if 
they make this request known at the time of comment submission.
    In recent years, natural resource managers have increasingly 
recognized that private lands play a pivotal role in linking or 
providing important habitats for fish, wildlife, and plant species. To 
protect and enhance these habitats through incentives for private 
landowners, Congress appropriated $40 million for the Service to 
administer a new Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) for States and 
Tribes. The Service will award grants to States for programs that 
enhance, protect, and/or restore habitats that benefit federally 
listed, proposed or candidate species, or other at risk species on 
private lands. A primary objective of LIP is to establish, or 
supplement existing, landowner incentive programs that provide 
technical and financial assistance, including habitat protection and 
restoration, to private landowners for the protection and management of 
habitat to benefit federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or 
other at-risk species on private lands as stated in the appropriations 
language. LIP complements other federal private lands conservation 
programs that focus on the conservation of habitat.

Proposed Program Implementation Guidelines

Definitions

    LIP is a grant program establishing a partnership among Federal and 
State governments and private landowners. The Federal role in 
implementation of LIP is to provide policy, guidance, funds, and 
oversight. The State role in implementation of LIP is to provide 
technical and financial assistance to private landowners for projects 
for the protection and management of habitat for species at risk. The 
private landowner role is to provide the habitat necessary to 
accomplish the objectives of LIP. For this program, we are defining 
species at risk as any Federally listed, proposed, or candidate species 
or other species of concern as officially determined and documented by 
a State. Private land is considered any non-government-owned land. A 
project is a discrete task to be undertaken by private landowners for 
the accomplishment of the defined LIP objectives.
    A series of questions and answers follow which describe the 
proposed implementation guidelines for LIP.

Program Requirements

    1. What is the objective of this program? the primary objective of 
this program is to establish or supplement State landowner incentive 
programs that protect and restore habitats on private lands, to benefit 
Federally listed, proposed, or candidate species or other species 
determined to the at risk, and provide technical and financial 
assistance to private landowners for habitat protection and 
restoration.
    2. How will the Tribes participate in LIP? The Service is 
allocating $4 million of the total funds appropriated under LIP to 
Tribes for a competitive grant program to be described in a separate 
Federal Register notice. For Tribal LIP grant information contact Pat 
Durham, Office of Native American Liaison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 1849 C Street NW., Mail Stop 3251, Washington, DC 20240 or 
call (202) 208-4133.
    3.Does LIP require plans like the State Wildlife Grant Program (FY 
2002) and the Wildlife and Conservation and Restoration Program? No.
    4. Who can apply for a LIP grant? The State agency with primary 
responsibility for fish and wildlife will be responsible for submitting 
all proposal to Federal Aid (FA). All other governmental entities, 
individuals, and organizations, including Tribes, may partner with or 
serve as a subgrantee to that fish and wildlife agency.

Fiscal Issues

    5. How will the Service distribute the available $40 million? The 
Service will allocate $34.8 million for competitive grants to States, 
$4.0 million for Tribes, and $1.2 million for program administration by 
the Service.
    6. What is the non-Federal match requirement for LIP grants? The 
Service requires a minimum of 25% non-Federal match for LIP grants. The 
Insular Areas of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the 
Northern Mariana Islands are exempt form matching requirements for this 
program (based on 48 U.S.C. 1469a.(d)).
    7. May the required non-Federal match be in-kind contributions? 
Yes. Allowable in-kind contributions are defined in 43 CFR part 12.64. 
The following website provides additional information www.nctc.fws.gov/fedaid/toolkit/4312toc.pdf.

Grant Administration

    8. How will the Service award grants to States? The Service will 
use a two-tiered award system. Tier-1 grants will be assessed such that 
they meet minimum eligibility requirements. The Service will rank Tier-
2 grants on proposed criteria contained in this notice and award grants 
after a national competition.
    9. What are the intended objectives of Tier-1 grants? The Service 
intends that Tier-1 grants fund staff and associated support necessary 
to develop or enhance an existing landowner program. These programs 
should benefit private landowners and other partners to help manage and 
protect habitats that benefit species at risk through the development 
of plans, outreach, and associated activities that assist in the 
implementation of projects on private lands.
    10. What are the eligibility requirements for Tier-1 grants? To 
receive a Tier-1 grant a State program must meet all of the following:
    (a) Deliver technical and financial assistance to landowners;

[[Page 39416]]

    (b) Provide for appropriate administrative functions such as fiscal 
and contractual accountability;
    (c) Use LIP grants to supplement and not replace existing funds;
    (d) Distribute funds to landowners through a fair and equitable 
system;
    (e) Provide outreach and coordination that assists in administering 
the program; and
    (f) Describe a process for the identification of species at risk; 
and
    (g) Use obtainable and quantifiable performance measures that 
support Service goals. (http://planning.fws.gov/)
    11. What are the intended objectives of Tier-2 grants? The 
objective of a Tier-2 grant should place a priority on the 
implementation of State programs that provide technical and financial 
assistance to the private landowner. Programs should emphasize the 
protection and restoration of habitats that benefit Federally listed, 
proposed or candidate species, or other species at risk on private 
lands. The Service generally intends a Tier-2 grant to fund the 
expansion of existing State landowner incentive programs or those 
created under Tier-1 grants.
    12. What factors will be used to rank Tier-2 grants? The Service 
proposes to use the following criteria to rank Tier-2 proposals.
    (a) Proposal provides clear and sufficient detail to describe the 
program. (0-10 points)
    (b) Proposal provides adequate management systems for fiscal and 
contractual accountability (State), including annual monitoring and 
evaluation of progress toward desired project and program objectives 
(landowner and State). (0-10 points)
    (c) Proposal must describe the State's fair and equitable system 
for fund distribution. For example, States have developed their own 
criteria to evaluate and prioritize their project proposals based on 
criteria such as species needs, priority habitats, compliance with 
State and federal requirements, cost/benefit components including the 
duration of costs and benefits, and feasibility of success and select 
projects for grant proposal funding based on their highest priority 
standing. (0-10 points)
    (d) Proposal describes outreach efforts used to effect broad public 
awareness, support, and participation. (0-10 points)
    (e) Number of identified species at risk to benefit from the 
proposal. Points increase from 0-10 as more species are identified.
    (f) Percentage of State's total LIP program funds identified for 
use on private land projects as opposed to staff and related 
administrative support costs. Points increase from 0 to 10 as the 
percentage of funds identified for staff and related administrative 
costs decrease.
    (g) Percentage of total non-Federal fund cost sharing. Points 
increase from 0 to 10 as the percentage of non-Federal cost sharing 
increases above the minimum cost share.
    (h) Proposal provides obtainable and quantifiable performance 
measures that support Service performance goals. (http://planning.fws.gov/) (0-10 points)
    13. Are there funding limits (caps) for LIP? Yes.
    (a) The Service will cap Tier-1 grants at $180,000 for State fish 
and wildlife agencies, and $75,000 for Territories and the District of 
Columbia.
    (b) In addition, no State may receive more than $1.74 million Tier 
1 and Tier 2 funds combined from the FY 2002 appropriation.
    14. May a State submit more than one proposal? States may submit 
one proposal each for Tier 1 and Tier 2 grants. However, funding limits 
still apply, as described in Question 13.
    15. If, after awarding Tier-1 and Tier-2 grants, some FY 2002 funds 
remain, how will the Service make them available to the States? We will 
announce subsequent requests for proposals until all LIP funds are 
obligated. States that have not reached the cap may submit an 
additional proposal.
    16. Will interest accrue to the account holding LIP funds and if so 
how will it be used? No. The LIP funds were not approved for investing, 
and as a result no interest will accrue to the account.
    17. What administrative requirements must States comply with in 
regard to LIP? States must comply with 43 CFR Part 12 that provides the 
administrative regulations (www.nctc.fws.gov/fedaid/toolkit/4312toc.pdf.) and OMB Circular A-87 that provides cost principles 
(www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars).
    18. What information must a State include in a grant proposal? LIP 
grant proposals must include an Application for Federal Assistance (SF-
424) and must identify whether it is a Tier-1 or Tier-2 proposal. They 
must also include statements describing the need, objectives, expected 
results or benefits, approach or procedures, location, and estimated 
cost for the proposed work (43 CFR part 12). They should also clearly 
identify how each of the ranking criteria (Tier 2) and minimum 
requirements (Tier 1) are addressed and information on performance 
measures to be used. The SF-424 is available from FA at any Service 
Regional Office or at www.nctc.fws.gov/fedaid/toolkit/formsfil.pdf.
    19. Where should a State send grant proposals? Once the final 
Federal Register notice is published, States should submit all LIP 
proposals to the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of 
Federal Aid, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 140, Arlington, VA 22203-
1610.
    20. When are proposals due to the Service? The Service will issue a 
Request For Proposals (RFP) in the Federal Register in the summer of 
2002 which will give States 60 days to prepare and submit proposals 
from the date of the RFP.
    21. What process will the Service use to evaluate and select 
proposals for funding? The Service will evaluate all proposals received 
by the 60 day deadline. Successful proposals will then be selected 
based on the final eligibility and selection criteria in the RFP, and 
will be subject to the final approval of the Assistant Secretary for 
Fish and Wildlife and Parks. All applicants will be notified of the 
results.
    22. Once a proposal is selected for funding what additional grant 
documents must the applicant submit and to whom? In addition to the 
Application for Federal Assistance submitted with the original 
proposal, the Service requires the following documents: A Grant 
Agreement (Form 3-1552) and a schedule of work the State proposes to 
fund through this grant. Additionally, the Service, in cooperation with 
the applicants, must address Federal compliance issues, such as the 
National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation 
Act, and the Endangered Species Act. Regional Office FA staff can 
assist in explaining the procedures and documentation necessary for 
meeting these Federal requirements. This additional documentation must 
be sent to the appropriate Regional Office where FA staff will approve 
the grant agreement to obligate funds. See the answer to Question 25 
for Regional Office locations and www.nctc.fws.gov/fedaid/toolkit/fagabins.pdf for additional information.
    23. What reporting requirements must States meet once funds are 
obligated under a LIP grant agreement? The Service requires an annual 
progress report and Financial Status Report (FSR) for grants longer 
than one year. This annual report should include a list of 
accomplishments including project details and their relationship to 
meeting Service performance goals. (www.planning.fws.gov/) A final 
performance report and FSR (SF-269) are due to the Regional Office 
within 90 days of the grant agreement ending date.

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    24. Will landowners who have LIP projects implemented on their 
property be required to leave project improvements in place for a 
specific period of time? States will need to address this issue in 
their grant proposals, landowner incentive programs, and agreements 
with individual landowners. Habitat improvements should be left in 
place in order to realize the desired benefits for species at risk.
    25. Who can I contact in the Service about the LIP program in my 
local or regional area? Correspondence and telephone contacts for the 
Service are listed by Region below.

    Region 1. Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, 
American Samoa, Guam, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 
Regional Director, Division of Federal Aid, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4181, LIP Program 
Contact: Jim Greer, (503) 231-6128.
    Region 2. Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Regional 
Director, Division of Federal Aid, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 
Gold Avenue SW., Room 4012, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87102, LIP Program 
Contact: Lonnie Schroeder, (505) 248-7457.
    Region 3. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, 
Ohio, and Wisconsin. Regional Director, Division of Federal Aid, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, One 
Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056, LIP Program 
Contact: Lucinda Corcoran, (612) 713-5135.
    Region 4. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, 
and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Regional Director, Division of Federal 
Aid, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 200, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30345, LIP Program Contact: Marilyn Lawal, (404) 679-
7277.
    Region 5: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, 
Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, 
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. 
Regional Director, Division of Federal Aid, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035-9589, LIP Program 
Contact: Vaughn Douglas, (413) 253-8502.
    Region 6. Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South 
Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Regional Director, Division of Federal Aid, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center, 
Denver, Colorado 80225-0486, LIP Program Contact: Jacque Richy, (303) 
236-8155 ext. 236.
    Region 7. Alaska, Regional Director, Division of Federal Aid, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 
99503-6199, LIP Program Contact: Nancy Fair (907) 786-3435.

Required Determinations

Regulatory Planning and Review

    This policy document identifies proposed eligibility criteria and 
selection factors that may be used to award grants under the LIP. The 
Service developed this draft policy to ensure consistent and adequate 
evaluation of grant proposals that are voluntarily submitted and to 
help perspective applicants understand how the Service will award 
grants. According to Executive Order (E.O.) 12866, this policy document 
is significant and has been reviewed by the Office of Management and 
Budget in accordance with the four criteria discussed below.
    (a) The LIP will not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 
million or more or adversely affect in a material way the economy, a 
sector of the economy, productivity, jobs, the environment, public 
health or safety, or State or local communities. A total of $34,800,000 
will be awarded in grants to State and Territorial wildlife agencies to 
provide financial and technical assistance to private landowners to 
carry out voluntary conservation actions. These funds will be used to 
pay for the administration and execution of actions such as restoring 
natural hydrology to streams or wetlands that support species of 
concern, fencing to exclude livestock from sensitive habitats, or 
planting native vegetation to restore degraded habitat. In addition, 
grants that are funded will generate other, secondary benefits, 
including benefits to natural systems (e.g., air, water) and local 
economies. All of these benefits are widely distributed and are not 
likely to be significant in any single location. It is likely that some 
residents where projects are initiated will experience some level of 
benefit, but quantifying these effects at this time is not possible. We 
do not expect the sum of all the benefits from this program, however, 
to have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more.
    (b) We do not believe the LIP would create inconsistencies with 
other agencies' actions. Congress has given the Service the 
responsibility to administer the program.
    (c) As a new grant program, the LIP would not materially alter the 
budgetary impact of entitlements, user fees, loan programs, or the 
rights and obligations of their recipients. This policy document 
establishes a new grant program that Public Law 107-63 authorizes, 
which should make greater resources available to applicants. The 
submission of grant proposals is completely voluntary, but necessary to 
receive benefits. When an applicant decides to submit a grant proposal, 
the proposed eligibility criteria and selection factors identified in 
this policy can be construed as requirements placed on the awarding of 
the grants. Additionally, we will place further requirements on 
grantees that are selected to receive funding under the LIP in order to 
obtain and retain the benefit they are seeking. These requirements 
include specific Federal financial management and reporting 
requirements and time commitments for maintaining habitat improvements 
or other activities described in the applicant's proposal.
    (d) OMB had determined that this policy raises novel legal or 
policy issues, and, as a result, this document has undergone OMB 
review.

Regulatory flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as 
amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
(SBREFA) of 1996), whenever an agency is required to publish a notice 
of rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must prepare and make 
available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis that 
describes the effects of the rule on small entities (i.e., small 
businesses, small organizations, and small government jurisdictions). 
No regulatory flexibility analysis is required, however, if the head of 
the agency certifies the rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. SBREFA amended the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act to require Federal agencies to provide as 
statement of the factual basis for certifying that a rule will not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. SBREFA also amended the RFA to require a certification 
statement. In this notice, we are certifying that the LIP will not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
for the reasons described below.
    Small entities include organizations, such as independent nonprofit 
organizations and local governmental jurisdictions, including school 
boards

[[Page 39418]]

and city and town governments that serve fewer than 50,000 residents, 
as well as small businesses. Small businesses include manufacturing and 
mining concerns with fewer than 500 employees, wholesale trade entities 
with fewer than 100 employees, retail and service businesses with less 
than $5 million in annual sales, general and heavy construction 
businesses with less than $27.5 million in annual business, special 
trade contractors doing less than $11.5 million in annual business, and 
agricultural businesses with annual sales less than $750,000. To 
determine if potential economic impacts to these small entities are 
significant, we consider the types of activities that might trigger 
impacts as a result of this progrma. In general, the term significant 
economic impact is meant to apply to a typical small business firm's 
business operations.
    The types of effects this program could have on small entities 
include economic benefits resulting from the purchasing of supplies or 
labor to implement the grant proposals in relation to habitat 
improvements on private lands. By law, only State and Territorial 
wildlife agencies are eligible grant recipients. Since this program 
will be awarding a total of only $34,800,000 for grants throughout the 
United States to benefit wildlife habitat on private lands, a 
substantial number of small entities are unlikely to be affected. The 
benefits from this program will be spread over such a large area that 
is unlikely that any significant benefits will accrue to a significant 
number of entities in any area. In total, the distribution of the 
$34,800,000 will not create a significant economic benefit for small 
entities but, clearly a number of entities will receive some benefit.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.)

    In accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 
August 25, 2000 et seq.):
    (a) This policy will not ``significantly or uniquely'' affect small 
government entities.
    (b) This policy will not produce a Federal mandate of $100 million 
or greater in any year; that is, it is not a ``significant regulatory 
action'' under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. The LIP establishes a 
grant program that States may participate in voluntarily.

Takings

    In accordance with Executive Order 12630 (``Government Actions and 
Interference with Constitutionally Protected Private Property 
Rights''), the LIP does not have significant takings implications. 
State and Territorial agencies will work with private landowners who 
voluntarily request technical and financial assistance for species 
conservation on their lands.

Executive Order 13211

    On May 18, 2001, the President issued and Executive Order (E.O. 
13211) on regulations that significantly affect energy supply, 
distribution, and use. Executive Order 13211 requires agencies to 
prepare Statements of Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. 
This policy is not expected to significantly affect energy supplies, 
distribution, or use. Therefore, this action is not a significant 
energy action and no Statement of Energy Effects is required.

Federalism

    In accordance with Executive Order 13132, this policy document does 
not have any Federalism effects. A Federalism assessment is not 
required. Congress has directed that we administer grants under the LIP 
directly to the States and Territories. The States have the authority 
to decide which project proposals received from private landowners to 
forward to the Service for consideration.

Civil Justice Reform

    In accordance with Executive Order 12988, the LIP does not unduly 
burden the judicial system and does meet the requirements of sections 
3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the Order. With the guidance in the policy 
document, the Service will clarify the requirements of the LIP to 
applicants that voluntarily submit grant proposals.

National Environmental Policy Act

    This draft policy does not constitute a major Federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. The 
Service has determined that the issuance of the draft policy is 
categorically excluded under the Department of the Interior's NEPA 
procedures in 516 DM 2, Appendix 1 and 516 DM 6, Appendix 1. The 
Service will ensure that grants that are funded through the LIP are in 
compliance with NEPA.

Government-to-Government Relationship With Tribes

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, 
``Government to Government Relations With Native American Tribal 
Governments'' (59 FR 22951), E.O. 13175, and the Department of the 
Interior's manual at 512 DM 2, we readily acknowledge our 
responsibility to communicate meaningfully with federally recognized 
Tribes on a government-to-government basis.
    This policy document deals only with the LIP program as it relates 
to States and Territories. Under Public Law 107-63, Title I, Tribes are 
also eligible grantees. The Service is preparing a separate policy 
document which will be applicable to the tribal component of the LIP 
program.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) 
please note the following information. This information collection is 
authorized by the Federal AId in Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 
777-7771), Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669-
669i), Partnerships for Wildlife Act (16 U.S.C. 3741), the Coastal 
Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 3954), the 
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544) and Department of the 
Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Acts.
    This information collection covers the collection of proposals, 
budgets, financial and performance reports related to grants issued 
under the above Acts. Potential grantees are expected to submit 
complete proposals addressing the ranking factors discussed elsewhere 
in this notice. We are collecting this information to evaluate programs 
and projects relevant to the eligibility, substantiality, relative 
value of each in order to rank the proposals for competitive awards. We 
are collecting budget information from applicants in order to make 
awards of grants under these programs. We are collecting financial and 
performance information to track costs and accomplishments of these 
grants programs. We are also collecting performance information as it 
relates to the President's goals and objectives for the department of 
the Interior and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Completion of these 
application and reporting requirements will involve a paperwork burden 
of approximately 80 hours per grant proposal. This does not include any 
burden hours previously approved by OMB for standard or U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service forms.
    Your response to this information collection is required to receive 
benefits in the form of a Grant, and does not carry any premise of 
confidentiality. An agency may not conduct or sponsor; and a person is 
not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid OMB control number: This information 
collection was previously approved by OMB and assigned control number 
1018-0109. We

[[Page 39419]]

are citing additional authorities and requesting an increase in the 
total burden hours through this approval request. Interested parties 
can see this proposed information collection at this url: http://federalaid.fws.gov/grants/Proposed_Federal_Aid_Grants_Application_Booklet.pdf.
    The Service submitted the information collection requirements to 
OMB for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
Public Law 104-13. Comments are invited on (1) whether the collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of burden of the 
collection of information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Comments may be submitted to the address 
listed in ADDRESSES section near the beginning of this notice.

Authority

    This notice is published under the authority of the Department of 
the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002, H.R. 2217/
Public Law 107-63.

    Dated: June 3, 2002.
Paul Hoffman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 02-14257 Filed 6-6-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M