[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 189 (Thursday, October 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50773-50774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23819]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No.: 0909281323-91323-01]


Exception to Final Guidelines for the Coastal and Estuarine Land 
Conservation Program

AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; exception to final guidelines.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National 
Ocean Service publishes this notice of exception to the Final 
Guidelines for the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program 
(CELCP). For those grants issued in fiscal year 2006 that are due to 
expire on September 30, 2009, NOAA may extend the financial assistance 
award period for up to 6 additional months, providing for a potential 
maximum award duration of three years and six months.

DATES: The provisions in this notice are implemented as of September 
30, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact: 
Elaine Vaudreuil, 301-713-3155 ext. 103, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation 
Program was established pursuant to Public Law 107-77 for the purpose 
of protecting important coastal and estuarine areas that have 
significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or 
aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion from their 
natural or recreational state to other uses. In accordance with Public 
Law 107-77, CELCP published in the Federal Register on June 17, 2003 
(68 FR 35860) program guidelines delineating the criteria for grant 
awards. The Final Guidelines for CELCP outline a planning process for 
states to identify the conservation needs and priorities within each 
state; provide the information necessary for eligible coastal states to 
develop land conservation plans and nominate projects to a national 
competitive selection process; and delineate the criteria for grant 
awards.
    In FY 2006, the conference report accompanying the Science, State, 
Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2006 
(Pub. L. 109-108) directed funds for specific land conservation 
projects under the CELCP. Consistent with the criteria for grants 
awards in the Final Guidelines, the standard financial assistance award 
period for these awards is 18 months, which can be extended an 
additional 18 months if circumstances warrant, but may not exceed 3 
years.
    Several FY 2006 awards, whose award period is set to expire on 
September 30, 2009, have experienced unforeseen circumstances late in 
the process that precluded their completion within the 3-year timeframe 
provided in the CELCP Guidelines. In order to ensure that projects can 
be completed and funds expended for their intended purpose, NOAA is 
extending the maximum potential award duration for those FY 2006 grants 
in an open status on September 29, 2009, from three years to three 
years and six months, ending no later than March 31, 2010.
    Award recipients who wish to avail themselves of the extension to 
the award period should contact their Program Officer by September 30, 
2009 to inform them of their intent to seek an extension.
    This extension applies to only FY 2006 CELCP awards in an open 
status on September 29, 2009. This notice does not modify any provision 
in the Final Guidelines for the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation 
Program published on June 17, 2003.

Classification

Executive Order 12866

    This notice has been determined to be not significant for purposes 
of Executive Order 12866.

[[Page 50774]]

Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)

    It has been determined that this notice does not contain policies 
with Federalism implications as that term is defined in Executive Order 
13132.

Administrative Procedure Act/Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Prior notice and an opportunity for public comment are not required 
by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for rules 
concerning public property, loans, grants, benefits, and contracts (5 
U.S.C. 553(a)(2)). Because notice and opportunity for comment are not 
required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other law, the analytical 
requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) 
are inapplicable. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis has not 
been prepared.

    September 29, 2009.
John H. Dunnigan,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management.
[FR Doc. E9-23819 Filed 9-30-09; 8:45 am]
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