[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 30, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71859-71860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23489]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Multistate Conservation Grant Program; Priority List for 
Conservation Projects

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of priority list.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is publishing in the 
Federal Register the priority list of wildlife and sport fish 
conservation projects submitted by the International Association of 
Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA) for funding under the Multistate 
Conservation Grant Program. This notice is required by the Wildlife and 
Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-
408). FY 2006 grants may be awarded from this priority list.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pam Matthes, Multistate Conservation 
Grants Program Coordinator, Division of Federal Assistance, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop MBSP-4020, 
Arlington, Virginia 22203; phone (703) 358-2156; or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration 
Programs Improvement Act of 2000 (Improvement Act) amended the Pittman-
Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.) and the 
Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777 et seq.) and 
established the Multistate Conservation Grant Program. The Improvement 
Act authorizes grants of up to $3 million annually from funds available 
under each of the Restoration Acts, for a total of up to $6 million 
annually. Grants may be awarded from a list of priority projects 
recommended to the FWS by the IAFWA. The Director of the FWS, 
exercising the authority of the Secretary of the Interior, need not 
fund all IAFWA-recommended projects, but may fund only those projects 
identified on IAFWA's priority list. Funds under the Multistate 
Conservation Grant Program may be used for sport fisheries and wildlife 
management and research projects, boating access development, hunter 
safety and education, aquatic education, fish and wildlife habitat 
improvements and other purposes consistent with the purposes of the 
enabling legislation.
    To be eligible for funding, a project must benefit fish and/or 
wildlife conservation in at least 26 States, a majority of the States 
in a region of the FWS, or a regional association of State fish and 
wildlife agencies. Grants may be awarded to a State or group of States 
as well as to non-governmental organizations. For the purpose of 
carrying out the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-
Associated Recreation, grants may be awarded to the FWS or to a State 
or a group of States. Also, IAFWA requires all project proposals to 
address its National Conservation Needs, which are announced annually 
by the IAFWA at the same time as its request for proposals. Further, 
applicants must provide certification that no activities conducted 
under a Multistate Conservation Grant will promote or encourage 
opposition to the regulated hunting or trapping of wildlife or to the 
regulated angling for or taking of fish.
    Eligible project proposals are reviewed and ranked by IAFWA 
Committees and interested non-governmental organizations that represent 
conservation organizations, sportsmen organizations, and industries 
that support or promote fishing, hunting, trapping, recreational 
shooting, bow hunting, or archery. A final list of priority projects is 
recommended by the IAFWA's Committee on National Grants to the 
Directors of State fish and wildlife agencies for their approval by 
majority vote. The final approved list is then recommended to the FWS 
for funding under the Multistate Conservation Grant Program and must be 
submitted to the FWS by October 1.
    This year, the FWS received a list of 23 IAFWA-recommended 
projects, 4 of which are recommended as contingent projects. They are 
recommended for funding in 2006, contingent on the Multistate 
Conservation Grant Program receiving additional funds as specified in 
the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity 
Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-059) passed in August 2005. The list 
recommended by IAFWA follows:
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    Dated: October 31, 2005.
H. Dale Hall,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 05-23489 Filed 11-29-05; 8:45 am]
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