[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79131-79136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32701]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

RIN 1018-AI59


Tribal Landowner Incentive Program (T-LIP) Implementation 
Guidelines for Fiscal Year (FY) 2002

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior Related Agencies Appropriations 
Act of 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, States and Tribes under a Landowner 
Incentive Program. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) herein 
proposes the guidance for the $4 million tribal component of the 
Landowner Incentive Program.

DATES: Interested parties should submit comments to the addresses under 
the heading ADDRESSES by January 27, 2003. Comments regarding 
information collection requirements should note that the Office of 
Management and Budget has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove 
information collection submissions, but may respond after 30 days. 
Therefore, an early comment response would be advised.

ADDRESSES: Comments to this proposed implementation guidance should be 
sent to: Robyn Thorson, Assistant Director--External Affairs, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 1849 C Street, NW., Mail Stop 3012 MIB, 
Washington, DC 20240. Comments may be telefaxed as well to: 202/501-
3524. For information collection requirements under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act, send comments to: Interior Desk Officer, Attn: 1018-
0109, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503, and send a copy of these paperwork burden 
comments to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 224, Arlington, VA 
22203.
    The Service will make all comments received in response to this 
Notice available for public review during regular business hours at the 
Office of the Native American Liaison. 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 the respondent makes 
this request known at the time of comment submission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Durham, Office of the Native 
American Liaison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1849 C Street, Mail 
Stop 3012 MIB, Washington, DC 20240, 202/208-4133.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Act of 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, States and Tribes under the Landowner 
Incentive Program. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) herein 
proposes the implementation guidance for the $4 million tribal 
component of the Landowner Incentive Program.
    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 actions and 
activities that protect and 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.
    The Service is providing guidance to the public and, particularly, 
to federally-recognized tribes, in the administration of this $4 
million Tribal Landowner Incentive Program (T-LIP). T-LIP will provide 
conservation monies to federally recognized tribes for actions and 
activities that protect and restore habitats that benefit Federally 
listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species on 
tribal lands. T-LIP was created because of the unique relationship 
between the Federal government and tribes and because tribal lands are 
not private lands and

[[Page 79132]]

would not be eligible for funding under a State-administered LIP with a 
private lands grant distribution system. Because the tribes directly 
administer the funds rather than further distribute them to individual 
landowners, the criteria used in evaluating program proposals differ to 
some extent from those used in the LIP. The results of both the LIP and 
T-LIP would be similar in effect as both encourage voluntary 
conservation of natural resources. A series of questions and answers 
follow that describe the proposed guidelines in some detail.
    The Service is proposing this guidance with the intent of gathering 
input from the affected communities. Whereas the Service is seeking 
comments on all aspects of T-LIP, several items are of particular 
interest. The Service wishes to determine whether it should limit 
funding to any one tribe to 5 percent (%) or some other amount of the 
total available funding. Secondly, the Service wishes to confirm 
whether the proposed ranking criteria appropriately addresses the 
intent of current law establishing the program. Thirdly, we seek 
comment whether the proposed 25 percent matching contribution is the 
appropriate matching amount. Finally, public opinion will also be 
helpful in determining whether or not and to what level tribal 
organizations may participate in T-LIP.

II. Proposed Implementation Guidelines

A. Eligibility

1. Who May Participate in the T-LIP?
    The Service proposes a competitive process that affords federally-
recognized tribes in all parts of the United States an opportunity to 
participate in the grant program.
2. Are State-Recognized Tribes or Petitioning Tribes Eligible To 
Receive Grants Under This Program?
    No, only federally-recognized tribes are eligible to receive grants 
under this program. Federally-recognized tribes are listed in the 
Federal Register / Volume 67, Number 134 / July 12, 2002 / Notices.
3. Can Tribal Organizations or Other Non-Tribal Entities Receive Grants 
Under This Program?
    No, however, the Service proposes that tribal organizations or 
other non-tribal entities that could not enter into grant agreements 
may do so as subgrantees or contractors to federally-recognized tribes. 
The Service is aware of various types of tribal organizations and other 
non-tribal entities and seeks public comments regarding their 
participation in T-LIP.
4. What Process Does the Service Propose To Use To Distribute T-LIP 
Funds?
    The Service will request proposals through a Federal Register 
notice, direct contact, and other forms of outreach to eligible 
applicants. The Service's Regional Directors will receive all 
proposals.
5. Who Will Coordinate Regional Grant Application Submissions?
    The Regional Native American Liaisons of the Service will 
coordinate the process to screen these proposals and rank them 
according to nationally uniform criteria.
6. How Will the Various Regional Grant Application Submissions Be 
Reviewed for National Funding?
    A national panel will review Regionally-ranked proposals for 
recommendations to the Director of the Service (Director).
7. Who Will Be Empaneled To Serve as the National Review Panel?
    The Regional Native American Liaisons of the Service will serve on 
the panel in addition to other Service and other Federal agency 
personnel, as appropriate and as may be identified by the Director.
8. Will Tribal Representatives Be Involved in Reviewing or Ranking 
Proposals?
    No, only Federal employees will review and rank proposals in this 
initial year. However, the Service is interested in receiving comments 
from the public on ways to involve tribal representatives in this 
process in future years.
9. Who Will Make the Final Determination for Grant Approval?
    The Director will make the final determination for grant approval.

B. Application Requirements

1. Is T-LIP Exempt From Federal Grant Program Compliance?
    No, T-LIP is not exempt from any of the Federal grant program 
compliance requirements as specified in 43 CFR part 12, OMB Circulars 
A-102 and A-87, and Service Manual Chapters 552 FW1 and 523 FW1.
2. What Must Proposals Include for Participation in T-LIP?
    Proposals must include a cover letter, program summary, program 
narrative, budget narrative, and tribal resolution of support as 
described herein.

--A cover letter briefly states the main features of the proposed 
program.
--A program summary describes, in one-half page, the type of activity 
that would take place if the Service funds the program.
--A program narrative clearly identifies the problems that the proposal 
will correct or help solve for the protection and management of habitat 
to benefit Federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other 
at-risk species on tribal lands, and the expected results or benefits. 
It must contain a needs assessment, objectives, time line, methodology, 
geographic location (with maps), monitoring plan, and identification of 
clear, obtainable and quantifiable goals and performance measures that 
will help achieve the management goals and objectives of the T-LIP and 
Service performance goals. The two relevant Service goals are the 
Sustainability of Fish and Wildlife Populations (Goal 1.2) and Habitat 
Conservation (Goal 2.3), which can be found in the Service's Long Term 
Strategic Plan for 2000 to 2005 at http://planning.fws.gov/USFWStrategicPlanv3.pdf. Related Service planning and results reports 
can be found at http://planning.fws.gov.
--A budget narrative clearly justifies all proposed costs and indicates 
that the grantee will provide adequate management systems for fiscal 
and contractual accountability, including annual monitoring and 
evaluation of progress toward desired project objectives, goals, and 
performance measures. It should include discussion of direct cost items 
such as salaries, equipment, consultant services, subcontracts and 
travel, as well as program matching or cost sharing information. 
Applicants may cover new project administrative costs, but they cannot 
include pre-existing administrative costs.
--A resolution of support from the appropriate tribal governing body 
states its support for the proposal.
3. Where Can Applicants Obtain a Grant Proposal Package?
    Applicants can obtain a grant proposal package from the appropriate 
Regional Native American Liaison of the Service, as listed in Subpart 
IV of this document.
4. Are Matching Funds Required?
    Yes, the Service proposes a minimum of 25 percent (%) non-Federal 
matching funds for participation in this program. This is the same 
matching contribution

[[Page 79133]]

requirement States must make under the LIP.
5. Are In-Kind Contributions Eligible as Matching Funds?
    In kind contributions may be counted towards the required 25% non-
federal matching requirement. Any in-kind contributions in excess of 
the required 25 percent (%) may be used as a match to improve the 
potential ranking of a proposal. The federal government has defined 
``in-kind'' as non-cash contributions made by the tribe. In-kind 
contributions must be necessary and reasonable for carrying out the 
project, and must represent the same value that the Service would have 
paid for similar services or property if purchased on the open market. 
Allowable in-kind contributions are defined in 43 CFR part 12.64. The 
following website provides additional information: http://training.fws.gov/fedaid/toolkit/inkind.pdf.
6. Can a Tribe Submit More Than One Grant Proposal?
    Tribes are encouraged to submit a single comprehensive grant 
proposal. After all proposals have been ranked, the Service may allow 
tribes to submit additional proposals if all of the funding has not 
been obligated.
7. Is There a Maximum Level of Funding That Will Be Considered Under T-
LIP?
    The Service wants to encourage the maximum amount of participants 
in the T-LIP program. Therefore, the Service recommends a maximum of no 
more than 5 percent (%) of the total available funds should be awarded 
to any tribe. However, depending upon the number of proposals submitted 
and the relative merit of each proposal, some tribes may be awarded 
sums which would exceed this proposed 5 percent (%) funding level.
8. Is There a Minimum Level of Funding That Will Be Considered Under 
the T-LIP?
    No, the Service recommends no minimum level of funding.

C. Ranking Criteria

What Ranking Criteria Is the Service Proposing To Use?
    The Service has developed the following potential ranking criteria 
and weight factors for review and comment. The Service will be using 
these criteria in evaluating each proposal on a scale of zero (0) 
through one hundred (100) points.
    Benefit of the Program: What are the probable significant benefits 
to fish and wildlife resources and their habitat if this program is 
successfully completed? (0-15 points)
    Performance Measures: To what extent does the proposal provide 
obtainable and quantifiable performance measures and a means to 
monitor, evaluate, and report on these measures compared to an initial 
baseline? The measures should be specific, clear, and provide 
demonstrable benefits to the target species of the action. These 
actions should support the goals of the T-LIP and relevant Service 
performance goals. The two relevant Service goals are Sustainability of 
Fish and Wildlife Populations (Goal 1.2) and Habitat Conservation (Goal 
2.3) which can be found at http://planning.fws.gov/USFWStrategicPlanv3.pdf. (0-15 points)
    Work Plan: Are the program activities and objectives well-designed 
and achievable? (0-10 points)
    Budget: Are all major budget items justified in relation to the 
program objectives and clearly explained in the narrative description? 
(0-15 points)
    Capacity Building: To what extent does the program increase the 
grantee's capacity to provide for the protection, restoration and 
management of habitat to benefit Federally listed, proposed, or 
candidate species, or other at-risk species on tribal lands as stated 
in the appropriations language? (0-10 points)
    Commitment: To what extent does the applicant display commitment to 
the program through in-kind contribution or matching funds? (0-10 
points)
    Partnerships: To what extent does the program incorporate 
contributions from other non-Federal partners in the form of either 
cash or in-kind services? (0-15 points)
    Administrative Costs: What is the percentage (%) of program funds 
identified for use on actual projects as opposed to staff and related 
administrative costs? Ranking will be improved as the percentage of 
funds identified for staff and related administrative costs decrease. 
(0-10 points)

D. T-LIP Operations and Management

1. In the Course of Implementing a T-LIP Project Can Grantees Use T-LIP 
Funds To Cover Costs of Environmental Review, Habitat Evaluation, 
Permit Review (e.g., Section 404), and Other Environmental Compliance 
Activities Associated With a T-LIP Project or Program?
    Yes, the T-LIP funds can cover these activities provided they are 
directly related to the T-LIP project or program being funded and are 
included in the budget and discussed in the program and budget 
narratives.
2. What Activities Are Eligible Under T-LIP?
    Eligible programs include those that improve, preserve or maintain 
habitat for endangered, threatened, candidate or other at-risk species. 
Examples of the types of projects within identified tribal programs 
that the Service may fund include using prescribed burning to restore 
grasslands that support imperiled species, fencing to exclude animals 
from sensitive habitats, or planting native vegetation to restore 
degraded habitat.
3. Are There Any Specific Activities That Are Not Allowable Under the 
Guidance of T-LIP?
    A proposal cannot include activities required to comply with a 
Biological Opinion or include activities required to comply with a 
permit (e.g., mitigation responsibilities). However, a proposal can 
include activities that implement conservation recommendations.
4. What Species Are Considered Endangered, Threatened, Candidate or At-
Risk?
    Those species federally listed as endangered or threatened under 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, or species proposed or 
candidates for such listing, or at-risk species (e.g., species 
recognized as a species of conservation concern, such as species listed 
or identified by a State or a tribe).
5. Does the Term ``Private Lands'' in the Landowner Incentive Program 
Appropriation Language Exclude Tribal Trust Lands From Participation in 
T-LIP?
    No, tribal trust lands are not ``public lands.'' For the purposes 
of inclusion under T-LIP, federally recognized tribes are considered 
landowners and are eligible.
6. Is the T-LIP Program a Continuous Revenue Source for Tribal Wildlife 
Programs?
    No, there is no authorization for appropriation of funds beyond FY 
2002. Funds appropriated in FY 2002 are available until spent.
7. Can the Grantee hold T-LIP Funds in an Interest-Bearing Account?
    No, T-LIP grant funds may not be held in interest-bearing accounts.

E. Grant Award Procedures

1. What Additional Information Must Be Provided to the Service by the 
Grantees Once Awards Are Announced?
    Once the Director notifies grantees that their proposal was 
selected for

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funding, the recipient must submit a Standard Form 424 (Application for 
Federal Assistance) along with a grant agreement and attachments as 
required by Federal regulations. As with our other Federal programs, T-
LIP agreements must comply with 43 CFR part 12, the National 
Environmental Policy Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the 
National Historic Preservation Act, and all other applicable Federal 
laws and regulations. This grant program is also subject to provisions 
of Office of Management and Budget Circulars No. A-87, A-102, and A-133 
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars).
2. Once Ggrants Are Awarded, Who Should the Grantee Consider as the 
Lead Contact Person?
    Once grants have been awarded, the grantee should consider the 
appropriate Regional Native American Liaison of the Service as the lead 
contact person for all matters pertaining to the particular award.
3. When Will the Service Award T-LIP Grants?
    Once the Service has reviewed and ranked all eligible T-LIP grant 
proposals, the Director will make his final decision within 30 days of 
the recommendations of the national review panel.
4. How Will Funds Be Disbursed Once the Service Has Awarded T-LIP 
Grants?
    Subsequent to funding approval, grant funds are electronically 
delivered to the Health and Human Services' SMARTLINK payment system. 
Through this electronic funds transfer (EFT) grantees will be able to 
receive their funds on a reimbursement basis. Some of the tribal 
grantees may not be EFT compliant. In order to insure optimal service 
to potential grantees within the current Federal Aid process, grantees 
will need to obtain EFT capabilities. Grantees may request an advance 
of no more than 25 percent (%) of the total grant. Such requests will 
be individually reviewed by the Service and honored if sufficient 
hardship or need is demonstrated that would preclude the success of the 
proposal if advance funds are not made available.
5. What Reporting Requirements Must Tribes Meet Once Funds Are 
Obligated Under a T-LIP Grant Agreement?
    The Service requires an annual progress report and Financial Status 
Report (FSR) for grants longer than one year. A final performance 
report and FSR (SF-269) are due to the Regional Office within 90 days 
of the grant agreement ending date. In the annual progress report, the 
tribes must include a list of project accomplishments relative to those 
which were planned in the grant agreement. The effectiveness of each 
tribe's program, as reported in the annual progress reports, will be an 
important factor considered during the grant award selection process in 
subsequent years.

III. Procedural Requirements

A. Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866)

    This policy document identifies proposed eligibility criteria and 
selection factors that may be used to award grants under the T-LIP 
program. 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 12866, this policy 
document is significant and has been reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) in accordance with the four criteria 
discussed below.
    1. The T-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. The Department of the 
Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 
2002 allowed the Secretary to create the T-LIP program. 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.
    2. We do not believe the T-LIP would create inconsistencies with 
other agencies' actions. Congress has given the Service the 
responsibility to administer this program.
    3. As a new grant program, the T-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 T-LIP program 
in order to obtain and retain the benefit they are seeking. These 
requirements include specific Federal financial management and 
reporting requirements as well as specific habitat improvements or 
other management activities described in the applicant's grant 
proposal.
    4. OMB has determined that this policy raises novel legal or policy 
issues, and, as a result, this document has undergone OMB review.

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

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as 
amended, 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 (e.g., small 
businesses, small organizations, and small government jurisdictions). 
Indian tribes are not considered to be small entities for purposes of 
the Act and, consequently, no regulatory flexibility analysis has been 
done.

C. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) of 1996

    This proposed implementation guidance is not considered a major 
rule under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
(SBREFA) of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 804(2)) because it does not have an annual 
effect on the economy of $100 million or more. The yearly amount of T-
LIP program funds is limited to $4 million.
    This proposed implementation guidance will not cause a major 
increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, 
Federal, state, or local government agencies, or geographic regions. 
Actions under this proposed implementation guidance will distribute 
Federal funds to Indian tribal governments and tribal entities for 
purposes consistent with activities akin to other Service programs 
designed to enable landowners to protect and conserve species as may be 
protected

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under the Endangered Species Act and the habitat that supports such 
species.
    This proposed implementation guidance does not have significant 
adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, 
innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with 
foreign-based enterprises.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    This proposed implementation guidance would not impose unfunded 
mandates as defined by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Public 
Law 104-4, March 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 48). This proposed rule will not 
result in the expenditure by State, local and tribal governments, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any 
one year (2 U.S.C. 1532).

E. Takings Implication Assessment (Executive Order 12630)

    This proposed implementation guidance does not have significant 
``takings'' implications. This proposed implementation guidance does 
not pertain to ``taking'' of private property interests, and its impact 
on private property would be an incentive that is totally landowner 
driven.

F. Executive Order 13211--Energy Effects

    On May 18, 2001, the President issued Executive Order 13211 which 
speaks to regulations that significantly affect energy supply, 
distribution, and use. The Executive Order requires agencies to prepare 
Statements of Energy Effects when undertaking certain actions. This 
proposed implementation guidance is not expected to significantly 
affect energy supplies, distribution, or use. Therefore, no Statement 
of Energy Effects has been prepared.

G. Executive Order 12612--Federalism

    This proposed implementation guidance does not have significant 
Federalism effects because it pertains solely to Federal-tribal 
relations and will not interfere with the roles, rights, and 
responsibilities of States.

H. Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988)

    This proposed implementation guidance does not unduly burden the 
judicial system and meets the applicable standards provided in sections 
3(a) and 3(b)(2) of the Executive Order 12988.

I. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    This proposed implementation guidance does not constitute a Federal 
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. 
The Service has determined that the issuance of the proposed 
implementation guidance 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 funded through the T-
LIP program are in compliance with NEPA.

J. Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments 
(Executive Order 13175)

    Pursuant to Executive Order 13175 of November 6, 2000, 
``Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments,'' we 
have committed to consulting with tribal representatives in the 
finalization of the implementation guidance for the T-LIP. We have 
evaluated any potential effects on federally-recognized Indian tribes 
and have determined that there are no potential adverse effects. This 
guidance expands tribal participation in Service programs and allows 
for opportunities for tribal wildlife management and conservation 
initiatives across Indian Country. We will continue to consult with 
tribal governments and tribal entities throughout the comment period, 
as a part of the rulemaking process, and beyond in furthering our 
mutual goals for the T-LIP.

K. Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501)

    The information collection requirements of this program will be 
largely met through the Federal Aid Grants Application Booklet. Federal 
Aid has applied for OMB approval under Control Number 1018-1019. This 
approval applies to grants managed by the Division of Federal Aid, even 
if for other Divisions of the Service. We are collecting this 
information relevant to the eligibility, substantiality, relative 
value, and 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 
grant programs. 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 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. With respect to this 80 
hour per application increase in burden hours, interested parties 
should contact the Information Collection Clearance Officer listed in 
the ADDRESSES section of this document.

IV. Native American Liaisons for the Fish and Wildlife Service

    Regional correspondence and telephone contacts for the Service for 
this proposed implementation guidance and other appropriate purposes 
are as follows:

Region 1--Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and California

Native American Liaison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 911 N.E. 11th 
Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4181, T-LIP Contact: Scott Aiken (503) 
231-6121

Region 2--Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas

    Native American Liaison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold 
Avenue, SW., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103, T-LIP Contact: John Antonio 
(505) 248-6810

Region 3--Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, 
and Wisconsin

Native American Liaison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, One Federal 
Drive, Fort Snelling, Minnesota, T-LIP Contact: John Leonard (612) 713-
5108

Region 4--Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee

Native American Liaison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century 
Boulevard, Suite 410, Atlanta, Georgia 30345, T-LIP Contact: Jim Brown 
(404) 679-7125

Region 5--Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode 
Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia

Native American Liaison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate 
Center Drive, Hadley, Massachusetts 01035-9589, T-LIP Contact: D.J. 
Monette (413) 253-8662 or (609) 646-9310

Region 6--Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South 
Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming

Native American Liaison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, PO Box 25486--
Denver Federal Center, Denver,

[[Page 79136]]

Colorado 80225-0486, T-LIP Contact: David Redhorse (303) 236-7905 x253

Region 7--Alaska

Native American Liaison, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East 
Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-6199, T-LIP Contact: Tony DeGange 
(907) 786-3492

    Dated: October 1, 2002.
Paul Hoffman,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 02-32701 Filed 12-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P