[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 37 (Monday, February 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8394-8396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-830]


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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: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), announce the FY 
2007 priority list of wildlife and sport fish conservation projects 
from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA). As required 
by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 
2000, each year AFWA submits a list of projects to us for consideration 
of funding by the Multistate Conservation Grant Program. We then review 
and award grants from this list.

ADDRESSES: John C. Stremple, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John C. Stremple, (703) 358-2156 
(phone) or [email protected] (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration 
Programs Improvement Act of 2000 (Improvement Act, Pub. L. 106-408) 
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 us to award 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. We may award grants from a list of 
priority projects recommended to us by AFWA. The FWS Director, 
exercising the authority of the Secretary of the Interior, need not 
fund all AFWA-recommended projects, but may fund recommended projects 
on the list only.
    Grantees under this program may use funds 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 enabling 
legislation.
    To be eligible for funding, a project must benefit fish and/or 
wildlife conservation in at least 26 States, or in a majority of the 
States in any one FWS region, or it must benefit a regional association 
of State fish and wildlife agencies. We may award grants to a State, a 
group of States, or one or more nongovernmental organizations. For the 
purpose of carrying out the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and 
Wildlife-Associated Recreation, we may award grants to the FWS, if 
requested by AFWA, or to a State or a group of States. Also, AFWA 
requires all project proposals to address its National Conservation 
Needs, which are announced annually by AFWA 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 AFWA 
Committees and interested nongovernmental organizations that represent 
conservation organizations, sportsmen's organizations, and industries 
that support or promote fishing, hunting, trapping, recreational 
shooting, bow hunting, or archery. AFWA's Committee on National Grants 
recommends a final list of priority projects to the directors of State 
fish and wildlife agencies for their approval by majority vote. By 
statute, AFWA then must transmit the final, approved list to the FWS 
for funding under the Multistate Conservation Grant Program by October 
1.
    This year, we received a list of 11 recommended projects. They are 
recommended for funding in 2007, 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. AFWA's recommended 
list follows:
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    Dated: January 21, 2007.
Kenneth Stansell,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 07-830 Filed 2-23-07; 8:45 am]
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