[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 1 (Thursday, January 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83-88]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-33136]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 001206342-2305-03; I.D. 102802A]
RIN 0648-ZB00


Financial Assistance for Community-based Habitat Restoration 
Projects

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this document is to invite the public to submit 
proposals for available funding to implement grass-roots habitat 
restoration projects that will benefit living marine resources, 
including anadromous fish, under the NOAA Community-based Restoration 
Program (CRP). This document describes the conditions under which 
applications (project proposals) will be accepted under the CRP, and 
describes criteria under which applications will be evaluated for 
funding consideration.

[[Page 84]]

 Projects funded through the CRP will be expected to have strong on-
the-ground habitat restoration components that provide educational and 
social benefits for people and their communities in addition to long-
term ecological habitat improvements for NOAA trust resources. 
Proposals selected for funding through this solicitation will be 
implemented through a project grant, cooperative agreement, or 
interagency transfer.

DATES: Applications for funding under the CRP will be accepted upon 
publication of this document in the Federal Register and must be 
received by or postmarked by March 3, 2003. Applications received or 
postmarked after that time will not be considered for funding. 
Applications submitted via the U.S. Postal Service must have an 
official postmark; private metered postmarks are not acceptable. 
Applications delivered by a delivery service after the postmark date 
will be accepted for review if the applicant can document that the 
application was provided to the delivery service on or prior to the 
specified postmark cut-off date. In any event, applications received 
later than 15 business days following the closing date will not be 
accepted. No facsimile or electronic mail applications will be 
accepted.

ADDRESSES: Send applications to Christopher D. Doley, Director, NOAA 
Restoration Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East West 
Highway (F/HC3), Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282; ATTN: CRP Project 
Applications.
    See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section under Electronic Access for 
additional information on the CRP and for application form information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin J. Bruckner or Alison Ward 
at(301)713-0174, or by e-mail at [email protected] or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Program Description

    The CRP, a financial and technical Federal assistance program, 
promotes strong partnerships at the national, regional and local level 
to fund grass-roots, community-based activities that restore living 
marine resources and their habitats and promote stewardship and a 
conservation ethic for NOAA trust resources. NOAA trust resources are 
living marine resources that include commercial and recreational 
fishery resources (marine fish and shellfish and their habitats); 
anadromous species (fish, such as salmon and striped bass that spawn in 
freshwater and then migrate to the sea); endangered and threatened 
marine species and their habitats; marine mammals, turtles, and their 
habitats; marshes, mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs, and other 
coastal habitats; and resources associated with National Marine 
Sanctuaries and National Estuarine Research Reserves. Habitats in the 
Great Lakes region are not covered by this solicitation.
    The CRP's objective is to bring together citizen groups, public and 
nonprofit organizations, watershed groups, industry, corporations and 
businesses, youth conservation corps, students, landowners, academics, 
and local government, state, and Federal agencies to cooperatively 
implement habitat restoration projects. Partnerships developed at 
national, regional and local levels contribute funding, land, technical 
assistance, workforce support or other in-kind services to promote 
citizen participation in the improvement of locally important living 
marine resources, as well as develop local stewardship and monitoring 
activities to sustain and evaluate the success of the restoration.
    The CRP recognizes the significant role that communities can play 
in habitat restoration, and acknowledges that habitat restoration is 
often best implemented through technical and monetary support provided 
at a community level. Community-based restoration projects supported by 
the CRP are successful because they have significant local backing, 
depend upon citizens hands-on involvement, and typically involve NOAA 
technical assistance or oversight. The role of NOAA in the CRP is to 
help identify potential restoration projects, strengthen the 
development and implementation of sound restoration projects and 
science-based monitoring of such projects within communities, and 
develop long-term, ongoing national and regional partnerships to 
support community-based restoration efforts of living marine resource 
habitats across a wide geographic area. For more information on the 
CRP, see Electronic Access.

II. Authority

    The Secretary of Commerce is authorized under the Fish and Wildlife 
Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661, as amended by the Reorganization Plan 
No. 4 of 1970, to provide grants or cooperative agreements for 
fisheries habitat restoration.

III. Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance

    The CRP is described in the ``Catalogue of Federal Domestic 
Assistance,'' under program number 11.463, Habitat Conservation.

IV. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education, 
hospitals, other non-profits, commercial organizations, organizations 
under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, international 
organizations, state, local and Indian tribal governments. Applications 
from Federal agencies will be considered. Before non-NOAA Federal 
applicants may be funded, they must demonstrate that they have legal 
authority to receive funds from another federal agency in excess of 
their appropriation. Because this announcement is not proposing to 
procure goods or services from applicants, the Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 
1535) is not an appropriate legal basis. Although Federal agencies are 
eligible to apply under this solicitation, they are strongly encouraged 
to work with states, non-governmental organizations, national service 
clubs or youth corps organizations and others that are eligible to 
apply, rather than seeking project funding directly from the CRP. 
Proposals selected for funding from non-Federal applicants will be 
funded through a project grant or cooperative agreement under the terms 
of this document. For applications funded through cooperative 
agreements, substantial involvement of the Federal government in the 
project may include, but is not limited to, activities such as hands-on 
technical or permitting assistance, monitoring the progression of the 
restoration through site visits, and involvement in public events to 
highlight restoration activities. Proposals selected for funding from a 
non-NOAA Federal agency will be funded through an interagency transfer.
    The Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (DOC/NOAA) is strongly committed to broadening the 
participation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic 
Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities in its 
educational and research programs. The DOC/NOAA vision, mission, and 
goals are to achieve full participation by Minority Serving 
Institutions (MSI) in order to advance the development of human 
potential, to strengthen the nation's capacity to provide high-quality 
education, and to increase opportunities for MSIs to participate in, 
and benefit from, Federal financial assistance programs. DOC/

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NOAA encourages proposals for habitat restoration projects involving 
MSIs according to the criteria in this document.

V. Eligible Restoration Activities

    NOAA is interested in funding projects that will result in on-the-
ground restoration of habitat to benefit living marine resources, 
including anadromous fish species. Restoration is defined here as 
activities that contribute to the return of degraded or altered marine, 
estuarine, coastal and freshwater anadromous fish habitats to a close 
approximation of their condition prior to disturbance. Restoration may 
include, but is not limited to, improvement of coastal wetland tidal 
exchange or reestablishment of historic hydrology; dam or berm removal; 
improvement or reestablishment of fish passage; reef/substrate/habitat 
creation; establishment of riparian buffer zones and improvement of 
freshwater habitat features that support anadromous fishes; 
exclusionary fencing and planting; planting of native coastal wetland 
and submerged aquatic vegetation; and enhancement of feeding, spawning 
and growth areas essential to marine or anadromous fish. NOAA 
recognizes that accomplishing restoration is a multi-faceted effort 
involving project design, engineering services, permitting, 
construction, oversight and monitoring.
    In general, proposed projects should clearly demonstrate 
anticipated benefits to habitats, such as salt marshes, seagrass beds, 
coral reefs, mangrove forests, and riparian habitat near rivers, 
streams and creeks used by anadromous fish, or where fish passage is 
certain to be restored to habitat formerly used by anadromous fish. 
Priorities for habitat restoration activities include: areas identified 
by NOAA Fisheries as essential fish habitat (EFH) and areas within EFH 
identified as Habitat Areas of Particular Concern; areas identified as 
critical habitat for federally or state listed marine and anadromous 
species; areas identified as important habitat for marine mammals and 
turtles; watersheds or such other areas under conservation management 
as special management areas under state coastal management programs; 
and other important commercial or recreational marine fish habitat, 
including degraded areas that historically were important habitat for 
living marine resources. To protect the Federal investment, projects on 
private lands need to provide assurance that the project will be 
maintained for its intended purpose for the life of the project. 
Projects must involve significant community support through an 
educational and/or volunteer component tied to the restoration 
activities. Implementation of on-the-ground habitat restoration 
projects must involve community outreach and monitoring to assess 
project success, and may involve limited pre-implementation activities, 
such as engineering and design and short-term baseline studies. 
Proposals emphasizing a singular restoration component, such as only 
outreach or program coordination are discouraged, as are applications 
that propose to expand an organization's day-to-day activities, or that 
primarily seek support for administration, salaries, overhead and 
travel. The CRP anticipates the availability of limited funds for high 
quality, quantitative monitoring projects to advance the science and 
technology of coastal and marine habitat restoration. Proposals 
emphasizing science-based monitoring of existing or simultaneously 
proposed CRP projects are encouraged.
    Although NOAA recognizes that water quality and land use issues may 
impact habitat restoration efforts, this initiative is intended to fund 
physical habitat restoration projects. The following restoration 
projects will not be eligible for funding: (1) Activities that 
constitute legally required mitigation for the adverse effects of an 
activity regulated or otherwise governed by state or Federal law; (2) 
activities that constitute restoration for natural resource damages 
under Federal or state law, (3) activities that are required by a 
separate consent decree, court order, statute or regulation, and (4) 
direct water quality improvement measures, including wastewater 
treatment plant upgrades or combined sewer outfall improvements. Funds 
from the CRP may be sought to enhance restoration activities beyond the 
scope legally required by these activities. Because funds are limited, 
funding land purchase agreements, conservation easements, and 
artificial reef projects to create habitat where it did not exist 
historically will be a low priority.

VI. Funding Availability

    This solicitation announces that funding of up to $2,000,000 is 
expected to be available for community-based habitat restoration in FY 
2003. The NOAA Restoration Center anticipates that typical project 
awards will range from $50,000 to $200,000; NOAA will not accept 
proposals for under $25,000 or proposals for over $250,000 under this 
solicitation. There is no guarantee that sufficient funds will be 
available to make awards for all proposals. The number of awards to be 
made as a result of this solicitation will depend on the number of 
eligible applications received, the amount of funds requested for 
initiating restoration projects by the applicants, the merit and 
ranking of the proposals, and the amount of funds made available to the 
CRP by Congress. The exact amount of funds that may be awarded will be 
determined in pre-award negotiations between the applicant and NOAA 
representatives. Publication of this document does not obligate NOAA to 
award any specific project or obligate all or any parts of any 
available funds.

VII. Matching Requirements

    The overall focus of the CRP is to provide seed money to individual 
projects that leverage funds and other contributions from a broad 
public and private sector to implement locally important habitat 
restoration to benefit living marine resources. To this end, applicants 
are encouraged to demonstrate a minimum 1:1 non-Federal match for CRP 
funds requested to complete the proposed project. NOAA strongly 
encourages applicants to leverage as much investment as possible; 
applicants with less than 1:1 match will not be disqualified.
    For non-Federal applicants, the match can come from a variety of 
public and private sources and can include in-kind goods and services; 
cash match is highly encouraged. Federal funds may not be considered 
matching funds. Applicants are permitted to combine contributions from 
additional non-Federal partners in order to meet the 1:1 match 
expected. Applicants whose proposals are selected for funding will be 
bound by the percentage of cost sharing reflected in the award document 
signed by the NOAA Grants Officer.

VIII. Award Period

    Generally, the CRP will make awards only to those projects where 
requested funding will be used to complete proposed restoration 
activities, with the exception of post-construction monitoring, within 
a period of 24 months from the approved start date of the project. If 
an application is selected for funding, NOAA has no obligation to 
provide any additional prospective funding in connection with that 
award in subsequent years. Any subsequent proposal to continue work on 
an existing project must be submitted to the competitive process for 
consideration and will not receive preferential treatment. Renewal of 
an award to increase funding or to extend the period of performance is 
at the total discretion of NOAA.

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IX. Electronic Access

    Information on the CRP, including examples of community-based 
habitat restoration projects that have been funded to date, can be 
found on the world wide web at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration/community. The standard NOAA application forms and 
instructions for applicants are accessible through this web site, or 
they can be obtained from the NOAA Restoration Center (see ADDRESSES). 
Potential applicants are invited to contact NOAA Restoration Center 
staff before submitting an application to discuss the applicability of 
project ideas to the CRP's goals and objectives, and to request an 
application package that contains instructions for submitting NOAA 
standard grants applications and supplementary instructions specific to 
the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program.

X. Application Process

    To submit a proposal, a complete NOAA standard grants application 
package should be filed in accordance with the guidelines in this 
document. Each application should include all specified sections as 
follows: Cover sheet-an applicant must use Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) Standard Form 424 as the cover sheet for each project; 
budget detail (SF 424A and budget justification narrative); grant 
assurances SF424B and CD-511, and SF-LLL and CD-346 if applicable; 
narrative project description, and curriculum vitae or resume of 
primary project personnel. Budgets must include a detailed breakdown by 
category of cost (object class) separated into Federal and non-Federal 
shares as they relate to specific aspects of the project, with 
appropriate justification for both the Federal and non-Federal shares.
    In general, applications should clearly demonstrate the broad-based 
benefits expected to specific habitats, and how these benefits will be 
achieved through the proposed restoration activities. The narrative 
project description should be no more than 12 double-spaced pages long, 
in 12-point font, and should give a clear presentation of the proposed 
work. It should identify the problems the project will address and 
describe short- and long-term objectives and goals, the methods for 
carrying out and monitoring the project, and the project's relevance to 
enhancing habitat to benefit living marine resources. The project 
narrative should describe the organizational structure of the applicant 
group, detail its qualifications, and identify proposed project staff; 
participants (project partners) other than the applicant, and their 
contributions should be identified. Applicants should indicate if the 
project has been submitted for funding consideration elsewhere, whether 
the funds requested are Federal or non-Federal, and what amount has 
been requested or secured from other sources. The need for assistance 
should be demonstrated, and the narrative should provide assurance that 
all necessary environmental permits and consultations will be secured 
prior to the use of Federal funds for construction. Applicants should 
not assume prior knowledge on the part of NOAA as to the relative 
merits of the project described in the application.
    Applications should not be bound in any manner and should be 
printed on one side only. Three hard copies (including one signed 
original) of each application are required and must be submitted to the 
NOAA Restoration Center (see ADDRESSES). Applicants may opt to submit 
additional hard copies (seven are needed for reviewing purposes) if it 
does not cause a financial hardship; an additional copy only may also 
be submitted electronically in either Microsoft Word or WordPerfect 
formats on a PC-compatible floppy disk or CD ROM. Applications for 
multiple projects submitted by the same applicant must be submitted in 
separate envelopes.

XI. Indirect Costs

    The budget may include an amount for indirect costs if the 
applicant has an established indirect cost rate with the Federal 
government. Indirect costs are essentially overhead costs for basic 
operational functions (e.g., lights, rent, water, insurance) that are 
incurred for common or joint objectives and therefore cannot be 
identified specifically within a particular project. For this 
solicitation, the Federal share of the indirect costs must not exceed 
the lesser of either the indirect costs the applicant would be entitled 
to if the negotiated Federal indirect cost rate were used or 25 percent 
of the direct costs proposed. For those situations in which the use of 
the applicant's indirect cost rate would result in indirect costs 
greater than 25 percent of the Federal direct costs, the difference may 
be counted as part of the non-Federal share. A copy of the current, 
approved negotiated indirect cost agreement with the Federal Government 
should be included with the application. If the applicant does not have 
a current negotiated rate and plans to seek reimbursement for indirect 
costs, documentation necessary to establish a rate must be submitted 
within 90 days of receiving an award.

XII. Project Selection Process

    Applications will be screened by CRP staff to determine if they are 
eligible, complete and in accordance with instructions detailed in the 
standard NOAA Grants Application Package. Eligible restoration 
proposals will undergo a technical review, ranking, and selection 
process. As appropriate during this process, the NOAA Restoration 
Center will solicit individual technical evaluations of each project 
proposed and may request evaluations from other NOAA offices, the 
Regional Fishery Management Councils, other Federal and state agencies, 
such as state coastal management agencies and state fish and wildlife 
agencies, and private and public sector restoration experts who have 
knowledge of a specific applicant, program or its subject matter. 
Proposals also will be reviewed by NOAA regional and headquarters staff 
to determine how well they meet the stated aims of the CRP, and how 
well the proposal meets the goals of the NOAA RC.
    Applications for habitat restoration projects will be evaluated by 
individual technical reviewers, including those mentioned in the above 
paragraph, according to the criteria and weights described in this 
solicitation. The proposals will be rated, and reviewer comments and 
composite project ranks will be presented to the Director of the NOAA 
Restoration Center (Director). The Director, in consultation with CRP 
staff, will consider the evaluations and may take into account the 
following: (a) Diversity of geographic location and habitat types to be 
restored; (b) diversity of applicants; (c) degree of duplication of 
proposed activities with other projects that are currently in effect or 
approved for funding by NOAA and other Federal agencies; (d) factors 
that may not be known by technical reviewers, including past 
performance of the applicant, that would affect achievement of the 
CRP's objectives as described in this announcement and the CRP 
Guidelines (65 FR 16890, March 30, 2000); and (e) the availability of 
funds. Hence, awards may not necessarily be made to the highest scored 
proposals. The Director, in consultation with CRP staff, will select 
the proposals to be recommended to the Grants Management Division for 
funding and determine the amount of funds available for each approved 
proposal. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing that 
their proposal was not among those recommended for funding, and 
unsuccessful applications will be kept on file until the close of the 
following fiscal year then destroyed.

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    Successful applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work 
plans, or budgets prior to final approval of an award. The exact amount 
of funds to be awarded, the final scope of activities, the project 
duration, and specific NOAA cooperative involvement with the activities 
of each project will be determined in pre-award negotiations among the 
applicant, the NOAA Grants Office, and the NOAA CRP staff. Projects 
should not be initiated in expectation of Federal funding until a 
notice of award document is received from the NOAA Grants Office.
    Successful applicants generally will be selected approximately 60 
days after the close of this solicitation. The earliest date for 
receipt of awards will be approximately 120 days after the close of 
this solicitation, when all NOAA/applicant negotiations of cooperative 
activities have been completed. Applicants should consider this 
selection and processing time in developing requested start dates for 
proposed restoration activities.

XIII. Evaluation Criteria

    Reviewers will assign scores to proposals ranging from 0 to 60 
points based on the following four evaluation criteria and respective 
weights.
    (1) Potential of the Project to Benefit Living Marine Resources (15 
points)
    Proposals will be evaluated on the extent of proposed habitat 
restoration activities and the type(s) of habitat(s) that will be 
restored. In particular, NOAA will evaluate proposals based on the 
amount and type of habitat proposed for restoration and the potential 
of the applicant to restore, protect, conserve, and enhance habitats 
and ecosystems vital to self-sustaining populations of living marine 
resources under NOAA Fisheries stewardship; whether the habitat(s) to 
be restored will benefit commercial, recreational, threatened or 
endangered species; whether the proposal addresses a priority habitat, 
restoration need, special consideration, or is part of a watershed or 
community stewardship plan; whether the effects of restoration are 
expected to persist; and whether the proposed project will complement 
or encourage other local restoration activities. Projects on 
permanently protected lands may be given priority consideration. 
Proposals for science-based monitoring of existing or simultaneously 
proposed CRP projects will be evaluated on the extent to which the 
potential results advance restoration methods, techniques, and project 
implementation.
    (2) Technical Merit and Adequacy of Project Implementation Plan (15 
points)
    Proposals will be evaluated on the technical feasibility of the 
project from both biological and engineering perspectives, and on the 
qualifications and past experience of the project leaders and/or 
partners in designing, implementing and effectively managing and 
overseeing projects that benefit living marine resources, including 
anadromous fish species. Communities and/or organizations developing 
their first locally-driven restoration project may not be able to 
document past experience and, therefore, will be evaluated on the basis 
of their potential to effectively manage and oversee all project phases 
and on the availability of NOAA or other technical expertise to guide 
the project to a successful completion.
    Proposals also will be evaluated on the adequacy of the 
implementation plan and the applicant's ability to: deliver the 
restoration objective stated in the proposal; demonstrate that the 
proposed activity will result in tangible benefits to living marine 
resources and will be sustainable and long-lasting; provide for long-
term management of the restored resource, including adequate monitoring 
and a method for evaluating project success; and provide assurance that 
implementation of the project will meet all Federal and state 
environmental laws by obtaining applicable permits.
    (3) Community Commitment and Partnership Development (15 points)
    Proposals will be evaluated on activities proposed to involve 
citizens and broaden their participation in coastal habitat restoration 
or science-based monitoring and the depth and breadth of community 
support, as reflected by the diversity and strength of project 
partners. Community participation may include: (a) hands-on training, 
restoration and monitoring activities undertaken by volunteers; (b) 
sponsorship by local entities, either through in-kind goods and 
services (earth-moving services, technical expertise, conservation 
easements) or cash contributions; (c) public education and outreach; 
(d) support from state and local governments; and (e) ability to 
achieve long-term stewardship for restored living marine resources and 
to generate a community conservation ethic.
    (4) Cost-effectiveness and Budget Justification (15 points)
    Proposals will be evaluated on the percentage of funds that will be 
dedicated to all phases of project implementation including physical, 
on-the-ground coastal habitat restoration and/or science-based 
monitoring, compared to the percentage that is for administration, 
salaries, overhead and travel. Applications proposing to use 
restoration funds to expand an organization's day-to-day activities are 
unlikely to obtain a high score under this criterion. To encourage on-
the-ground restoration, funding for salaries must be used to support 
staff directly involved in accomplishing the restoration work. 
Proposals also will be evaluated on the need for funding and the 
overall leverage of NOAA funds anticipated, including the amount of 
cash match; the potential for, or demonstrated NOAA involvement in, the 
project; the ability to which the proposed project is likely to 
catalyze future restoration and protection of living marine resources; 
and the ability of the applicant to demonstrate that a significant 
benefit will be generated for a reasonable cost. NOAA will expect cost-
sharing to leverage funding and to further encourage partnerships among 
government, industry, and academia.

XIV. Allowable Costs

    Funds awarded cannot necessarily pay for all the costs that the 
recipient might incur in the course of carrying out the project. 
Generally, costs that are allowable include salaries, equipment, 
supplies, and training, as long as these are ``necessary and 
reasonable.'' Allowable costs are determined by reference to the OMB 
Circulars A-122, ``Cost Principles for Non-profit Organizations'' A-21, 
``Cost Principles for Education Institutions'' A-87, ``Cost Principles 
for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments'' and Federal 
Acquisition Regulation, codified at 48 Code of Federal Regulations, 
subpart 31.2 ``Contracts with Commercial Organizations.''

XV. Other Requirements

    The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for 
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register 
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), as amended by the Federal 
Register notice published on October 30, 2002 (67 FR 66109), is 
applicable to this solicitation.
    Applications under this program are subject to the provisions of 
Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.''

Classification

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required 
by the Administrative Procedure Act [5 U.S.C. 553 (a) (2)] or by any 
other law for this document concerning grants, benefits, and contracts. 
Accordingly, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not required by the

[[Page 88]]

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
    The CRP will determine National Environmental Policy Act compliance 
on a project by project basis.
    This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.
    The use of the standard NOAA grants application package referred to 
in this notice involves collection-of-information requirements subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 
424B, SF-LLL, and CD-346 have been approved by OMB under the respective 
control numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0044, 0348-0040, 0348-0046, and 0605-
0001.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure 
to comply with, a collection of information subject to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act, unless that collection displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

    Dated: December 27, 2002.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-33136 Filed 12-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S