[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 136 (Monday, July 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42733-42742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15214]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-HQ-WSFR-2022-N010; 91400-5110-0000; 91400-9410-0000]


Multistate Conservation Grant Program; Priority Lists for Fiscal 
Years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 
receipt of the priority lists of wildlife and sport fish conservation 
projects from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 
(Association) for Federal fiscal years (FYs) 2019, 2020, 2021, and 
2022. The Association is required by law to annually submit a list of 
priority projects to the Service for funding consideration under the 
Service's Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP), which funds 
projects that address regional or national priorities of State fish and 
wildlife agencies. The Assistant Director for the Service's Wildlife 
and Sport Fish Restoration program recommends projects on the list to 
the Service Director for approval. Once projects are awarded, we must 
publish each priority list in the Federal Register. The FY 2019, 2020, 
2021 and 2022 projects have been awarded.

ADDRESSES: Lori Bennett, Multistate Conservation Grants Program, 
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program; U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service; 5275 Leesburg Pike; MS: WSFR; Falls Church, VA 22041-3808.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Bennett, via phone at 703-358-
2033, or via email at [email protected]. Individuals in the United 
States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech 
disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United 
States should use the relay services offered within their country to 
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Fish and Wildlife Programs Improvement and National Wildlife 
Refuge System Centennial Act of 2000 (Improvement Act; Pub. L. 106-408, 
Nov. 1, 2020) amended the Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et 
seq.) and the Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777 et seq.) and 
established the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (now known as the 
Traditional MSCGP, or T-MSCGP). The Improvement Act authorizes us to 
award grants of up to $3 million annually from funds available under 
each of the Acts, for a total of up to $6 million annually. Projects 
are selected through a competitive process developed collaboratively by 
State fish and wildlife agency directors, conservation and sportsmen 
and sportswomen organizations, and industries that support or promote 
hunting, trapping, and recreational shooting. Projects can be funded 
under Wildlife Restoration, Sport Fish Restoration, or both, depending 
on the project activities. The projects to which we award grants must 
be on a list of priority projects recommended to us by the Association. 
The Service Director, exercising the authority of the Secretary of the 
Interior, need not fund all projects on the list, but all projects 
funded must be on the Association's recommended list. The Improvement 
Act provides that funding for MSCGP grants is available in the fiscal 
year it is appropriated and for the following fiscal year, with any 
funds remaining after two years apportioned among the States in the 
manner and for the uses specified under the Wildlife Restoration and 
Sport Fish Restoration Acts.
    In addition to the Traditional MSCGP found in the Acts, the 
President signed the Modernizing the Pittman-Robertson Fund for 
Tomorrow's Needs Act (Pub. L. 116-94) into law on December 20, 2019. 
This law, among other measures, created a new Modern Multistate 
Conservation Grant Program, which makes available up to an additional 
$5 million for projects designed to support recruitment, retention, and 
reactivation (``R3'') activities. The Service will cite this as the 
``Modern Multistate Conservation Grant Program'' (R3-MSCGP).
    The Association and the Service work cooperatively to manage the T-
MSCGP and the R3-MSCGP. The Association sets project criteria, reviews 
grant applications, and provides project oversight, coordination, and 
guidance. Applicants must provide certification that no activities 
conducted under either a T-MSCGP or an R3-MSCGP award will promote or 
encourage opposition to regulated hunting or trapping of wildlife, or 
to regulated angling or taking of fish. Eligible project proposals are 
reviewed and ranked by the Association's committees, who consult with 
interested nongovernmental organizations that represent conservation 
organizations, sportsmen and sportswomen organizations, and industries 
that support or promote fishing, hunting, trapping, recreational 
shooting, bowhunting, or archery. Their selections become the priority 
list that is submitted to the Service.
    The Association's National Grants Committee recommends the final 
list of priority projects for both programs to the directors of the 
State fish and wildlife agencies for their approval by majority vote. 
By statute, the Association then transmits the final approved list to 
the Service for funding under the Multistate Conservation Grant Program 
by October 1 of each FY. The Service then provides an additional review 
process in accordance with grant regulations within 2 CFR part 200 and 
awards and administers the financial assistance grants.

Funding Eligibility

Traditional Multistate Conservation Grant Program Funding Eligibility

    Recipients awarded under the T-MSCGP may use funds for sport fish 
or 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 for at least 26 States, for a majority of the 
States in any one Service Region, or for one of the regional 
associations of State fish and wildlife agencies. Grants are awarded to 
one or more States, 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 Service, if requested by the Association, or to a State 
or a group of States. The Association also requires that all project 
proposals address the Association's selected national strategic 
priorities for both MSCGPs, which are announced annually at the same 
time requests for proposals are sent out.

[[Page 42734]]

Modern Multistate Conservation Grant Program Funding Eligibility

    The Modern Multistate Conservation Grant Program (R3-MSCGP) is a 
new program, which began awarding grants in FY 2020. The program 
specifically targets projects that address hunter recruitment and 
recreational shooter recruitment and that promote a national hunting 
and shooting sport recruitment program, including related communication 
and outreach activities.

Fiscal Year Tables

    The following sections of this notice set forth the award funding 
and project priorities by fiscal year for the years FY 2019 through FY 
2022. The list below provides abbreviations used in the tables:

Abbreviations Used in Tables

WR Funding Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration funds
SFR Funding Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration funds
CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
ABC American Bird Conservancy
AFS American Fisheries Society
AFWA Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
ASA American Sportfishing Association
ATA Archery Trade Association
BCC Boone and Crockett Club
BCHA Back Country Hunters and Anglers
CAHSS Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports
CSU Colorado State University
CU Cornell University
CWA California Waterfowl Association
CWD Chronic Wasting Disease
DWF Delta Waterfowl Foundation
FAF Future Angler Foundation
GWF Georgia Wildlife Federation
IDNR Iowa Department of Natural Resources
IFC Instream Flow Council, Inc.
IHEA International Hunter Education Association--USA
MAFWA Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
MDNR Michigan Department of National Resources
MMWF Max McGraw Wildlife Federation
MSU Michigan State University
NAA National Archery Association of the United States
NCLEEF National Conservation Law Enforcement Education Foundation
NCSU North Carolina State University
NEAFWA Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
NMDGF New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
NMWF New Mexico Wildlife Federation
NORC National Opinion Research Center
NS National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated 
Recreation
NSSF National Shooting Sports Foundation
NWF National Wildlife Federation
NWTF National Wild Turkey Federation
OSCF Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation, Inc.
PF Pheasants Forever
PSMFC Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
RBFF Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation
SAF Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation
SCIF Safari Club International Foundation
SCWDS Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study
SEAFWA Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
SSSF Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation
TRCP Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
TU Trout Unlimited
UDWR Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
UGA University of Georgia
USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service
UWM University of Wisconsin--Madison
WAFWA Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
WEI Wildlife Ecology Institute
WHISPers Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership
WMI Wildlife Management Institute
WVDNR West Virginia Department of Natural Resources

Fiscal Year 2019 Awards; Fund Availability and Priority List

    The Service's Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) 
had a total of $6,406,590.66 for awards in FY19 from funds carried over 
from FY 2018, as well as funding that had previously been sequestered; 
the total request for projects was $5,817,835.55, leaving a balance of 
$588,755.11. The Association provided the Service with a priority list 
of 39 projects, which included the 3 approved components of the 2016-
2021 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated 
Recreation project. The FY 2019 priority list is in table 1. The 
projects in this list have been awarded.

                Table 1--FY 2019 Traditional Multistate Conservation Grant Program Priority List
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Total FY 2019
       ID                  Title                 Recipient          WR* funding     SFR funding        grant
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............  Multistate Conservation  AFWA.................         $57,900         $57,900        $115,800
                   Grant Program
                   Coordination.
2...............  Coordination of Farm     AFWA.................          82,872          55,248         138,120
                   Bill Program
                   Implementation to
                   Optimize Fish and
                   Wildlife Benefits to
                   the States.
3...............  Coordination of State    AFWA.................          40,800          40,800          81,600
                   Fish and Wildlife
                   Agencies' Authority to
                   Manage Resources in
                   Concert with Federal
                   Actions Required by
                   CITES.
4...............  State Fish & Wildlife    AFWA.................       52,285.80       52,285.80      104,571.60
                   Agency Technical
                   Workgroup for the 2021
                   National Survey.
5...............  Coordinating and         AFWA.................          20,000          20,000          40,000
                   Planning National-
                   Scale Conservation
                   Initiatives through
                   Communications.
6...............  Implementation and       AFWA.................          61,500          61,500         123,000
                   Evaluation of the
                   National Conservation
                   Outreach Strategy.
7...............  State Fish & Wildlife    AFWA.................          50,000          50,000         100,000
                   Agency Director Travel.
8...............  Susceptibility of        SCWDS................          81,902               0          81,902
                   Common North American
                   Game Birds to West
                   Nile Virus.
9...............  Management Assistance    AFWA.................      299,326.20      299,326.20      598,652.40
                   Team and National
                   Conservation
                   Leadership Institute.
10..............  Conserving Fish Habitat  AFWA.................               0         250,680         250,680
                   Collaboratively in the
                   United States Through
                   the National Fish
                   Habitat Partnership.
11..............  Supporting               AFWA.................          28,500          28,500          57,000
                   Undergraduate and
                   Legal Education and
                   Occupational
                   Experience in Natural
                   Resource
                   Administration.
12..............  Development and Testing  WMI..................         149,500               0         149,500
                   of an Improved System
                   for Gathering Harvest
                   Information Data.
13..............  Evaluating the Promise   NCSU.................          78,563          29,058         107,621
                   of Potential Impacts
                   of R3 Efforts
                   Targeting College
                   Students (Year 2).
14..............  Continued Delivery of    MMWF.................          97,500               0          97,500
                   Trapping Matters
                   Workshops and Updating
                   a Survey of
                   Conservation
                   Professionals.

[[Page 42735]]

 
15..............  Coordination of the      AFWA.................          47,784          47,784          95,568
                   Industry, Federal and
                   State Agency Coalition.
16..............  Ensuring State           WEI..................          98,395               0          98,395
                   Management Authority
                   of Furbearers through
                   a Multi-Agency, Multi-
                   Organization Approach.
17..............  Increasing Awareness     AFWA.................          50,000          50,000         100,000
                   and Understanding of
                   State Fish and
                   Wildlife Management:
                   Implementing AFWA
                   Strategic Plan Goal 2.
18..............  Assessing Trends in      NSSF.................       20,025.18       20,025.18       40,050.36
                   Americans' Attitudes
                   Toward Hunting, Sport
                   Shooting, Fishing and
                   Trapping.
19..............  Update and Further       AFS..................               0          77,602          77,602
                   Development of
                   Standard Sampling
                   Protocols for Inland
                   Fisheries.
20..............  Survey and Gap Analysis  ABC..................         130,272               0         130,272
                   of North American
                   Grassland Habitat
                   Conservation Efforts.
21..............  National Fish Habitat    PSMFC................               0          20,000          20,000
                   Partnership Tracking
                   Database (Maintenance,
                   Support, and
                   Enhancement).
22..............  Accelerating             WMI..................          63,250          63,250         126,500
                   Development of
                   Effective Leaders in
                   State Fish and
                   Wildlife Agencies.
23..............  America's Conservation   SCIF.................         180,000               0         180,000
                   and Hunting Heritage,
                   A National Education
                   Initiative.
24..............  Quantify and             NSSF.................       86,687.50       86,687.50         173,375
                   Communicate the
                   Benefits from WSFR
                   Excise Tax Payments to
                   Strengthen State-
                   Federal-Industry
                   Relations.
25..............  Creating Millennial-     WMI..................       74,539.50       74,539.50         149,079
                   Conservationists:
                   Informing and Engaging
                   the Next Generation.
26..............  The Missing Link in R3:  WMI..................         162,388               0         162,388
                   Making Mentorship Work.
27..............  Ensuring the Viability   WMI..................          74,500          74,500         149,000
                   of the American System
                   of Conservation
                   Funding: Improving the
                   Understanding of
                   Excise-Tax-Based
                   Funding for
                   Conservation.
28..............  Planning for the Future  NCLEEF...............      228,297.79      228,297.79      456,595.58
                   of Conservation Law
                   Enforcement in the
                   United States.
29..............  Developing Angler        ASA..................               0          99,800          99,800
                   Personas to Improve R3
                   Marketing.
30..............  Facilitation and         CAHSS................         170,100          18,900         189,000
                   Updating of the
                   National Hunting and
                   Shooting Sports Action
                   Plan.
31..............  An Internal Look at      ASA..................       74,865.60       74,865.60      149,731.20
                   Outdoor Recreation:
                   Agency, Industry, and
                   Nongovernmental
                   Organization Attitudes
                   Toward Fishing,
                   Hunting, Sport
                   Shooting, and Boating.
32..............  Locavore R3 Workshops,   UDWR.................          12,000          12,000          24,000
                   Teaching States How to
                   Attract and Train
                   Locavores to Become
                   Anglers and Hunters.
33..............  Recruiting and           SSSF.................      147,673.41               0      147,673.41
                   Retaining Youth
                   Shooting Sports
                   Participants Through
                   Targeted Marketing,
                   Education, and Peer
                   Networking of
                   Volunteer Coaches.
34..............  Gettin' Families         FAF..................               0         240,000         240,000
                   Fishin': A National
                   Education Initiative.
35..............  Improve National         AFS..................               0          63,667          63,667
                   Coordination and
                   Conservation
                   Partnerships Through
                   the Development of a
                   Fisheries Gray
                   Literature Database.
36..............  Engaging Landowners and  TU...................               0          30,000          30,000
                   Partners in
                   Implementing Farm Bill
                   Programs that Benefit
                   Fish and Wildlife in
                   Riparian Areas.
37-NS...........  Method to Deriving       U.S Census...........      174,333.50      174,333.50         348,667
                   State-Level Estimates
                   from the 2016 NS.
38-NS...........  2016 Fifty-State Survey  Rockville Institute..         133,786         133,786         267,572
                   Reports.
39-NS...........  2021 Coordination of     USFWS................      126,476.50      126,476.50         252,953
                   the 2021 NS.
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Totals......  .......................  .....................    3,156,022.98    2,661,812.57    5,817,835.55
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Acronyms and initialisms for all tables are spelled out in the Abbreviations Used in Tables section.

Fiscal Year 2020 Awards; Fund Availability and Priority Lists

Traditional Multistate Conservation Grant Program Fund Availability and 
Priority List
    The Service's WSFR program had $6,939,510.06 available for T-MSCGP 
awards in FY 2020, after adjusting for sequestered, recovery, and 
carryover amounts from FY 2019. The total request for projects was 
$6,928,632.57, leaving a balance of $10,877.49. The Association 
provided the Service with a priority list of 40 projects, which 
included the 2 approved components of the 2022 National Survey of 
Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation project. Please 
note that the Association's Management Assistance Team proposal 
requesting $598,799.12 of Multistate funds (Project #25) was provided 
an additional $150,000 in Federal funds from the Service's National 
Conservation Training Center. This funding addition was the result of a 
signed memorandum of agreement between the Service and the Association. 
The list is in table 2. The projects in this list have been awarded.

[[Page 42736]]



                Table 2--FY 2020 Traditional Multistate Conservation Grant Program Priority List
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Total FY 2020
       ID                  Title                 Recipient          WR* funding     SFR funding        grant
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............  Coordination of Farm     AFWA.................         $82,872         $55,248        $138,120
                   Bill Program
                   Implementation to
                   Optimize On-the-Ground
                   Fish and Wildlife
                   Benefits to the States.
2...............  Coordinating and         AFWA.................          60,000          60,000         120,000
                   Planning National-
                   Scale Conservation
                   Initiatives by State
                   Fish and Wildlife
                   Agencies.
3...............  The North American       AFWA.................          27,500          27,500          55,000
                   Conservation Education
                   Strategy--update and
                   align toolkit to work
                   for today's
                   conservation educators
                   who offer fish and
                   wildlife-based
                   programs.
4...............  Introductory             AFWA.................          69,000          69,000         138,000
                   Implementation and
                   Evaluation of the
                   National Conservation
                   Outreach Strategy--
                   Part 2.
5...............  Advancing K-12           MMWF.................          31,680           7,920          39,600
                   conservation education
                   through improved tools
                   for educators
                   exploring the public
                   trust doctrine, North
                   American Model, and
                   related examples of
                   wildlife management.
6...............  Words Matter:            WMI..................       61,551.69       61,551.69      123,103.38
                   Determining How to
                   Engage the American
                   Public Through the
                   Language of
                   Conservation.
7...............  Coordinating and         AFWA.................          20,000          20,000          40,000
                   Planning National-
                   Scale Conservation
                   Initiatives Through
                   Effective
                   Communications.
8...............  Updating the AFS Blue    AFS..................               0          83,406          83,406
                   Book: Standard Methods
                   for Aquatic Pathogen
                   Identification and
                   Fish Health Management.
9...............  Characterizing and       CSU..................          60,138               0          60,138
                   Mapping Chronic
                   Wasting Disease Prion
                   Strains Across the
                   United States.
10..............  Pilot of the WHISPers    IDNR.................          15,240               0          15,240
                   wildlife mortality
                   event data system.
11..............  Exploring the potential  SCWDS................          99,741               0          99,741
                   for in utero
                   transmission of CWD
                   prions in white-tailed
                   deer.
12..............  National Coordination    WMI..................          99,225               0          99,225
                   and Technical
                   Assistance for the
                   Prevention,
                   Surveillance, and
                   Management of CWD.
13..............  A Novel Genetic          MDNR.................      138,696.59               0      138,696.59
                   Resource To Inform
                   Management of CWD.
14..............  Coordination of the      AFWA.................          41,727          41,727          83,454
                   Industry, Federal and
                   State Agency Coalition.
15..............  Angler R3 Program        RBFF.................               0      100,929.60      100,929.60
                   Funding Needs
                   Assessment.
16..............  Tracking Participation   ASA..................         109,830         109,830         219,660
                   Through Expanded
                   Regional & National
                   License Sales
                   Dashboards.
17..............  Digital Marketing        RBFF.................               0         340,000         340,000
                   Techniques to Increase
                   Angler Participation.
18..............  Ensuring the Viability   WMI..................       64,579.50       64,579.50         129,159
                   of the American System
                   of Conservation
                   Funding: Improving the
                   Understanding of
                   Excise-tax-based
                   Funding for
                   Conservation.
19..............  Increasing               SAF..................         141,350               0         141,350
                   Participation and
                   License Sales from
                   Hunter Education
                   Graduates.
20..............  Fishing in Schools: A    ASA..................               0         266,500         266,500
                   Grassroots Approach to
                   Increasing Angler
                   Participation.
21..............  Expansion of R3 and      CAHSS................         189,600          47,400         237,000
                   Engagement of the
                   National R3
                   Implementation
                   Workgroup.
22..............  Sportfishing's 2019      ASA..................               0          88,400          88,400
                   State-Level,
                   Congressional District
                   and Species-Level
                   Economic Impacts.
23..............  Coordination of State    AFWA.................          47,700          47,700          95,400
                   Fish and Wildlife
                   Agencies' Authority to
                   Manage Wildlife
                   Resources in Concert
                   with Federal Actions
                   Required by
                   International
                   Treaties, Conventions,
                   Partnerships, and
                   Initiatives.
24..............  Combating Trafficking    NCLEEF...............         125,000         125,000         250,000
                   and Illegal
                   Commercialization by
                   Strengthening
                   Communication and
                   Coordination among
                   State and National
                   Conservation Agencies'
                   Law Enforcement
                   Investigations and
                   Intelligence Sections.
25..............  Management Assistance    AFWA.................      299,399.56      299,399.56      598,799.12
                   Team and National
                   Conservation
                   Leadership Institute.
26..............  Increasing Awareness     AFWA.................          50,000          50,000         100,000
                   and Understanding of
                   State Fish and
                   Wildlife Management:
                   Implementing AFWA
                   Strategic Plan Goal 2.
27..............  Supporting Law,          NWTF.................          70,500          70,500         141,000
                   Graduate, and
                   Undergraduate
                   Students' Study of
                   Legal Principles and
                   Professional
                   Experience in
                   Conservation Law and
                   Policy Through a
                   Center of Conservation
                   Excellence.
28..............  A Collaborative Network- MDNR.................          99,000               0          99,000
                   Based Tool for
                   Improved CWD
                   Management in North
                   America.
29..............  Multistate Conservation  AFWA.................          60,900          60,900         121,800
                   Grant Program
                   Coordination.
30..............  Examining Societal       MMWF.................      105,730.65       18,658.35         124,389
                   Acceptance of Hunting
                   and Other Consumptive
                   Uses of Wildlife, in
                   Order to Create and
                   Test Agency
                   Communication
                   Strategies That
                   Promote Public
                   Acceptance and Advance
                   Conservation.

[[Page 42737]]

 
31..............  State Fish and Wildlife  AFWA.................          40,250          40,250          80,500
                   Agency Technical
                   Workgroup for the 2021
                   National Survey of
                   Fishing, Hunting, and
                   Wildlife-Associated
                   Recreation (National
                   Survey).
32..............  Capacity Building,       WMI..................       87,887.50       87,887.50         175,775
                   Training, and Pilot
                   Testing of the Fish
                   and Wildlife Relevancy
                   Roadmap.
33..............  Preparing for the        CSU..................       69,785.44       69,785.44      139,570.88
                   Future of Fish and
                   Wildlife Management.
34..............  Update and Further       AFS..................               0          97,399          97,399
                   Development of
                   Standard Sampling
                   Protocols for Inland
                   Fisheries (Phase 2 of
                   2).
35..............  Fisheries Research       AFS..................               0          84,373          84,373
                   Tracking and
                   Information Exchange
                   Tool.
36..............  National Fish Habitat    PSMFC................               0          20,000          20,000
                   Partnership Project
                   Tracking Database
                   (Maintenance, Support,
                   and Enhancement).
37..............  Development of YY Male   WAFWA................               0          75,704          75,704
                   Broodstocks for
                   Eradication of
                   Invasive Common Carp
                   Populations.
38..............  Assessing the State of   AFS..................               0          90,872          90,872
                   Fisheries Research
                   Agendas in the United
                   States and Outlining
                   Best Practices for
                   Development of Agendas.
39-NS...........  Coordination Component   USFWS................      130,853.50      130,853.50         261,707
                   for the 2022 National
                   Survey of Fishing,
                   Hunting, and Wildlife-
                   Associated Recreation
                   for Year 2020.
40-NS...........  2022 National Survey of  NORC.................         807,810         807,811       1,615,621
                   Fishing, Hunting, and
                   Wildlife-Associated
                   Recreation (5 years).
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Totals......  .......................  .....................    3,307,547.43    3,621,085.14    6,928,632.57
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Acronyms and initialisms for all tables are spelled out in the Abbreviations Used in Tables section.

FY 2020 Modern Multistate Conservation Grant Program Fund Availability 
and Priority List

    FY 2020 was the first year that Modern Multistate Conservation 
Grant Program (R3-MSCGP) funds became available for award. The 
Service's WSFR program had $4,705,000 available for R3-MSCGP awards 
after sequestering $295,000; the total request for projects was the 
full available amount, leaving a balance of $0. The Service worked with 
the Association to make these funds available quickly for eligible 
projects. The Association provided the Service a priority list of 25 
projects; the Service was able to award all projects by early December 
2020. The list is in table 3.

 Table 3--FY 2020 Modern Multistate Conservation Grant Program Priority
                                  List
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Total 2020 R3
       ID              Title              Recipient            award
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..............  MAFWA * Regional   MAFWA...............        $179,200
                  Small Game
                  Diversity and
                  Inclusion
                  Marketing
                  Toolkit.
2..............  Exploring the R3   CWA.................      245,004.50
                  Needs and
                  Opportunities of
                  Female Hunters,
                  Shooters, and
                  Archers.
3..............  Helping State      WMI.................         154,000
                  Agencies
                  Effectively
                  Recruit and
                  Retain the New
                  Locavore
                  Audience.
4..............  Strengthening      TRCP................          35,500
                  State Agency R3
                  of Diverse
                  Hunters and
                  Recreational
                  Shooters.
5..............  Activating and     NAA.................          78,295
                  Converting
                  Target Archers
                  into Hunting and
                  Shooting Sports.
6..............  Building           NWF.................         221,071
                  Community to
                  Retain Women
                  Hunters.
7..............  Scaling a College- GWF.................         175,300
                  Focused R3 Model.
8..............  Increase Industry  NSSF................      146,112.75
                  and Agency
                  Relations and
                  Communications
                  by Expanding
                  Partner-with-a-
                  Payer Initiative.
9..............  Effectively        WMI.................         175,825
                  Targeting New
                  Adult Hunters.
10.............  Increasing         WMI.................         203,821
                  Hunting Mentor
                  and Mentee
                  Numbers and
                  Effectiveness.
11.............  Effective R3       WMI.................         297,500
                  Marketing
                  Strategies.
12.............  Leveraging         ATA.................         230,000
                  Influencers &
                  Content
                  Marketing to
                  Recruit
                  Bowhunters.
13.............  Email Marketing    WMI.................         272,305
                  Best Practices
                  for State
                  Agencies.
14.............  What is the        NMDGF...............         120,000
                  public really
                  saying about
                  hunting and
                  hunters (and
                  what can we do
                  about it?).
15.............  Message Testing:   NWTF................         230,658
                  National Ad
                  Campaign to
                  Promote Support
                  of and
                  Participation in
                  Hunting and
                  Recreational
                  Shooting.
16.............  Advancing R3       CAHSS...............         450,000
                  Forward.
17.............  Hunting for        MMWF................          74,750
                  Conservation
                  Online: A Tool
                  from CLfT to
                  Engage in
                  College R3
                  Efforts.
18.............  Combining States   NSSF................         278,900
                  and Industry
                  Resources to
                  Increase R3
                  Success.
19.............  Hunters Connect    IHEA................         174,550
                  State Content
                  Delivery System
                  and Database.
20.............  Trapping Matters-- MMWF................          52,250
                  Communication
                  Message Training
                  Public Harvest
                  of Wildlife.
21.............  Frameworks and     WMI.................         116,149
                  Standards for R3
                  Effort and
                  Strategy
                  Evaluation.
22.............  Development of a   ASA.................         239,450
                  Real-time
                  License Data
                  Dashboard.
23.............  Development of a   SAF.................         207,055
                  Hunter Avidity
                  Model to Assess
                  & Improve R3
                  Participation.
24.............  Assessing the      NSSF................      224,967.75
                  Quality and
                  Availability of
                  Hunting and
                  Shooting Access
                  in the United
                  States.
25.............  Hunting and        SAF.................         122,336
                  Recreational
                  Shooting
                  Recruitment,
                  Retention, and
                  Reactivation
                  Among American
                  Military Members.
                                                         ---------------
  Total........  .................  ....................       4,705,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Acronyms and initialisms for all tables are spelled out in the
  Abbreviations Used in Tables section.


[[Page 42738]]

FY 2021 Awards; Fund Availability and Priority List

    After adjusting for sequestered, recovery, and carryover amounts 
from FY 2020, the T-MSCGP had $6,515,283 available for award, and the 
R3-MSCGP had $5,010,000 available. The total request for T-MSCGP 
projects was $6,488,271.53, leaving a balance of $27,011.47. The total 
request for R3-MSCGP projects was $3,066,603.90, leaving a balance of 
$1,943,396.10. Please note that the Association's Management Assistance 
Team proposal requesting $555,277.37 of Multistate funds (Project #10) 
also was provided an additional $150,000 in Federal funds from the 
National Conservation Training Center. This funding addition was the 
result of a signed Memorandum of Agreement between the Service and the 
Association. The Association provided the Service with a single 
Priority List of 39 proposals, consisting of 22 T-MSCGP projects 
(including 2 approved components of the 2022-2027 National Survey of 
Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation project) and 17 
R3-MSCGP projects. The list is in table 4. The projects in this list 
have been awarded.

            Table 4--FY 2021 Traditional Multistate Conservation Grant Program and Modern Multistate Conservation Grant Program Priority List
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                            Total 2021
            ID                          Title                        Recipient              WR* funding     SFR funding     R3 funding         grant
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.........................  Communicating the Effects of  AFS...........................              $0        $111,870              $0        $111,870
                             Climate Change on Fish and
                             Fisheries.
2.........................  Surveillance Optimization     CU............................         244,946               0               0         244,946
                             Project for CWD Dashboard:
                             A Web Application for
                             Disease Visualization and
                             Data-Driven Decisions.
3.........................  Online Platform for CWD Data  WVDNR.........................         225,000               0               0         225,000
                             Sharing Management in North
                             America.
4.........................  Fisheries Gray Literature     AFS...........................               0         105,191               0         105,191
                             Database State Agency
                             Expansion and Support.
5.........................  Preventing the Spread of      UGA Research Foundation.......         149,797               0               0         149,797
                             Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease
                             (RHDV2) in the United
                             States by Engaging Key
                             Stakeholders in
                             Collaborative Management
                             Solutions.
6.........................  Wildlife Viewer Survey:       AFWA..........................          65,300          65,300               0         130,600
                             Enhancing Relevancy and
                             Engaging Support from a
                             Broader Constituency.
7.........................  An Agency Path Forward:       WMI...........................      149,721.50      149,721.50               0         299,443
                             Designing Effective
                             Engagement and Building
                             Capacity for Relevancy.
8.........................  State- and Congressional      SAF...........................         100,308               0               0         100,308
                             District-Level Economic
                             Impacts for Hunting and
                             Target Shooting.
9.........................  Ensuring the Viability of     WMI...........................       85,932.50       85,932.50               0         171,865
                             the American System of
                             Conservation Funding:
                             Improving the Understanding
                             of Excise-Tax-Based Funding
                             for Conservation.
10........................  Management Assistance Team    AFWA..........................      277,638.69      277,638.68               0      555,277.37
                             and the National
                             Conservation Institute--
                             Leadership Development for
                             AFWA Members and the
                             Conservation Community.
11........................  Instream Flow and Water-      IFC...........................               0         119,325               0         119,325
                             Level Conservation Training
                             and Research Center.
12........................  Maintaining Relevancy of the  AFWA..........................         100,000               0               0         100,000
                             AFWA North American Trapper
                             Education Program for State
                             Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
13........................  Coordination of Farm Bill     AFWA..........................       84,819.60       56,546.40               0         141,366
                             Program Implementation to
                             Optimize On-the-Ground Fish
                             and Wildlife Benefits to
                             the States.
14........................  Coordination of State Fish    AFWA..........................          64,800          64,800               0         129,600
                             and Wildlife Agencies'
                             Authority to Manage
                             Wildlife Resources in
                             Concert with Federal
                             Actions Required by
                             International Treaties,
                             Conventions, Partnerships,
                             and Initiatives.
15........................  Supporting Effective          AFWA..........................       80,869.80       80,869.80               0      161,739.60
                             Coordination of Regional &
                             National Conservation
                             Efforts Through State Fish
                             & Wildlife Agencies.
16........................  Coordination of the           AFWA..........................          30,927          30,927               0          61,854
                             Industry, Federal and State
                             Agency Coalition.
17........................  Expanding the Community of    AFWA/National Fish Habitat                   0         176,240               0         176,240
                             Support for Fish Habitat      Partnership.
                             Partnership Conservation
                             Efforts.

[[Page 42739]]

 
18........................  Strengthening Awareness of    AFWA..........................          60,800          60,800               0         121,600
                             State Fish and Wildlife
                             Management: Support for
                             Legal Strategy and
                             Conservation Law Education
                             Under MSCGP Strategic
                             Priority 4.
19........................  Supporting Law, Graduate and  NWTF..........................          87,033          87,033               0         174,066
                             Undergraduate Students'
                             Study of Legal Principles
                             and Professional Experience
                             in Conservation Law and
                             Policy and Providing
                             Opportunity for Practicing
                             Lawyers and Judges'
                             Continuing Legal Education
                             on Conservation Law Under
                             MSCGP Strategic Priority 4.
20........................  Multistate Conservation       AFWA..........................       45,049.20       45,049.20       38,613.60         128,712
                             Grant Program Coordination.
21........................  Measuring the Efficacy of     WMI...........................               0               0         137,530         137,530
                             State Recruitment,
                             Retention, and Reactivation
                             (R3) Efforts: A
                             Quantitative Approach.
22........................  R3 Specific Evaluation and    MAFWA.........................               0               0         127,573         127,573
                             Social Science Training and
                             Resources for the Modern R3
                             Practitioner.
23........................  Meet Demand by Building       NSSF..........................               0               0         102,500         102,500
                             Shooting Ranges with Excise
                             Taxes.
24........................  Effective R3 Marketing        WMI for the Association of                   0               0         297,500         297,500
                             Strategies.                   Conservation Information.
25........................  Testing and Implementation    SAF...........................               0               0         112,340         112,340
                             of the Hunter Avidity Model
                             to Assess & Improve R3
                             Participation.
26........................  Winning at the Point of       WMI for NEAFWA................               0               0         135,000         135,000
                             Contact: Boosting R3
                             Response Rates Through
                             Professional Communications.
27........................  Utilizing Data Driven         BCHA..........................               0               0         156,000         156,000
                             Marketing Strategies to
                             Enhance New Audience
                             Engagement, R3 Curriculum
                             Development and Program
                             Efficacy.
28........................  Creating a Hunting Mentor     PF for MAFWA..................               0               0         139,865         139,865
                             Communication Toolkit.
29........................  Modernizing Trapping Matters  MMWF..........................               0               0         100,000         100,000
                             Professional Development
                             Workshops and Wild Fur
                             Schools Delivery Through
                             Updated Messaging and the
                             Creation of Distance
                             Learning Modules.
30........................  Converting 2020's Surge of    NSSF..........................               0               0         136,500         136,500
                             New Firearm and Hunting
                             License Owners into Active
                             Hunters and Target Shooters.
31........................  Retaining 2020's Surge of     AFS...........................               0         188,712               0         188,712
                             Licensed Anglers.
32........................  Asset Creation: National Ad   NWTF..........................               0               0         350,000         350,000
                             Campaign to Promote Support
                             for and Participation in
                             Hunting and Shooting.
33........................  Tracking Participation        ASA...........................               0      160,562.16      121,125.84         281,688
                             Through Expanded, Faster
                             License Data Dashboards.
34........................  Facilitation of National R3   CAHSS.........................               0               0         652,850         652,850
                             Strategies.
35........................  Effectiveness of Hunter       IHEA..........................               0               0         143,794         143,794
                             Education Delivery: Finding
                             the Missing Data.
36........................  Archers USA Varsity Archery   ATA...........................               0               0         175,000         175,000
                             Next Step Program Taking
                             Recruitment into Retention,
                             Transitioning the National
                             Archery in the Schools
                             Program Participants into
                             Bowhunters.
37........................  Hunter Education in a Post-   IHEA..........................               0               0      140,412.46      140,412.46
                             COVID-19 World.
38-NS.....................  Coordination Component for    USFWS.........................      132,777.50      132,777.50               0         265,555
                             the 2022 National Survey of
                             Fishing, Hunting, and
                             Wildlife-Associated
                             Recreation for Year 2020.

[[Page 42740]]

 
39-NS.....................  2022 National Survey of       NORC..........................       1,251,628       1,251,628               0       2,503,256
                             Fishing, Hunting, and
                             Wildlife-Associated
                             Recreation (5 years).
                                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals................  ............................  ..............................    3,237,347.79    3,250,923.74    3,066,603.90    9,554,875.43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Acronyms and initialisms for all tables are spelled out in the Abbreviations Used in Tables section.

FY 2022 Awards; Fund Availability and Priority List

    After adjusting for sequestered, recovery, and carryover amounts 
from FY 2021, the T-MSCGP had $6,598,154.68 available for award. The 
total request for T-MSCGP projects was $6,571,005.97, leaving a balance 
of $27,148.71. After adjusting for sequestered, recovery, and carryover 
amounts from FY 2021, the R3-MSCGP had $7,045,896.10 available. The 
total request for R3-MSCGP projects was $5,318,864.91, leaving a 
balance of $1,727,031.19. Please note that the Association's Management 
Assistance Team proposal requesting $560,000 of Multistate funds 
(Project #18) was provided an additional $150,000 in Federal funds from 
the National Conservation Training Center. This funding addition is the 
result of a signed memorandum of agreement between the Service and the 
Association. The Association provided the Service with a Priority List 
of 44 proposals, consisting of 20 T-MSCGP projects (including 2 
approved components of the 2022-2027 National Survey of Fishing, 
Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation project) and 24 R3-MSCGP 
projects. The list is in table 5. The projects in this list have been 
awarded.

            Table 5--FY 2022 Traditional Multistate Conservation Grant Program and Modern Multistate Conservation Grant Program Priority List
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                            Total 2022
            ID                          Title                        Recipient              WR* funding     SFR funding     R3 funding         grant
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.........................  Modernizing Fish Hatchery     AFS...........................              $0     $123,554.60              $0     $123,554.60
                             Management (aka the `Piper
                             Manual' or `Black Book'),
                             the How-to Manual for
                             Practicing Fish Culturists.
2.........................  Utilizing a Novel Genetic     MDNR..........................         199,061               0               0         199,061
                             Resource to Inform
                             Management of CWD.
3.........................  Improve PKD Diagnostics and   MSU...........................               0      145,844.37               0      145,844.37
                             Assess the Impact of
                             Tetracapsuloides
                             bryosalmonae Infection on
                             North American Salmonids.
4.........................  Contaminant Loads in          CU............................         280,959               0               0         280,959
                             Waterfowl of the NE
                             Atlantic Flyway: New
                             Threats and Outdated
                             Advisories.
5.........................  Burial Disposal of CWD-       UWM...........................         193,581               0               0         193,581
                             Infected Carcasses:
                             Migration and
                             Decontamination of Prions
                             in Model Landfill
                             Substrates.
6.........................  Advancing Implementation of   WMI...........................          79,425          79,425          79,425         238,275
                             the Fish and Wildlife
                             Relevancy Roadmap.
7.........................  Ensuring the Viability of     WMI...........................          75,191          65,190               0         140,381
                             the American System of
                             Conservation Funding:
                             Improving the Understanding
                             of Excise-Tax-Based Funding
                             for Conservation.
8.........................  Social Listening for          WMI...........................       66,187.50       66,187.50               0         132,375
                             Relevancy.
9.........................  Modernize the Organization,   WMI...........................         103,450          58,756               0         162,206
                             Authority, and Programs of
                             State Fish and Wildlife
                             Agencies Report.
10........................  Best Practices for            CSU...........................          71,574          71,574               0         143,148
                             Cultivating Diverse Fish
                             and Wildlife Agency
                             Workforces.
11........................  Developing Your Why: An       WAFWA.........................          37,293          37,293               0          74,586
                             Assessment of WAFWA Member
                             States' DEI Journey.
12........................  New Mexico Wildlife           NMWF..........................          95,400          75,000          75,000         245,400
                             Federation: Mi Tierra
                             Salvaje.
13........................  Development of Consistent     WMI...........................          93,555               0               0          93,555
                             Policy and Law to Prevent
                             Translocation of Feral
                             Swine.
14........................  Coordination of Farm Bill     AFWA..........................          78,120          52,080               0         130,200
                             Program Implementation to
                             Optimize On-the-Ground Fish
                             and Wildlife Benefits to
                             the States.
15........................  Exploring the motivations     BCC...........................         205,272               0               0         205,272
                             and deterrents of wildlife
                             poachers, the true
                             conservation costs of
                             wildlife crime, and
                             developing an approach to
                             ensure restitution, fines,
                             and penalties fit the
                             crimes.

[[Page 42741]]

 
16........................  Strengthening Awareness of    AFWA..........................          14,240          14,240               0          28,480
                             State Fish and Wildlife
                             Management: Support for
                             Legal Strategy and
                             Conservation Law Education
                             Under MSCGP Strategic
                             Priority 4.
17........................  Supporting Undergraduate/     NWTF..........................       75,452.50       75,452.50               0         150,905
                             Graduate/Law Students' &
                             Post-Graduates' Education &
                             Professional Experience in
                             Conservation Law & Policy.
18........................  Increasing Conservation       AFWA..........................         280,000         280,000               0         560,000
                             Management Capacity Through
                             Skills, Leadership, and
                             Knowledge Development.
19........................  Multistate Conservation       AFWA..........................          58,680          58,680          58,680         176,040
                             Grant Program Management.
20........................  Coordination of State Fish    AFWA..........................          64,800          64,800               0         129,600
                             and Wildlife Agencies'
                             Authority to Manage
                             Wildlife Resources in
                             Concert with Federal
                             Actions Required by
                             International Treaties,
                             Conventions, Partnerships,
                             and Initiatives.
21........................  Coordination of National-     AFWA..........................         101,870         101,870               0         203,740
                             Scale Conservation Efforts
                             by State Fish & Wildlife
                             Agencies: Travel, Industry,
                             Agency and Communications.
22........................  Realtime License Data         ASA...........................               0         117,352         117,352         234,704
                             Dashboard Improvement and
                             Expansion.
23........................  The New Future of Hunting     WMI...........................               0               0         145,030         145,030
                             and Fishing.
24........................  A National Campaign to        WMI...........................               0               0         470,538         470,538
                             Connect Millennials and
                             Generation Z with Hunting,
                             Shooting, and the Outdoors.
25........................  Discovering Family            ATA...........................               0          54,600         127,400         182,000
                             Bowfishing--National
                             Education Initiative.
26........................  Phase 3--Launch and           NWTF..........................               0               0         100,000         100,000
                             Education: National Ad
                             Campaign to Promote Support
                             for and Participation in
                             Hunting and Shooting.
27........................  Effectively Targeting New     WMI...........................               0               0         158,430         158,430
                             Adult Hunters.
28........................  Expanding Relevancy to        ATA...........................               0               0          71,000          71,000
                             Include More Diverse
                             Audiences.
29........................  Firearms Fundamentals Course  SEAFWA........................               0               0         275,000         275,000
                             Promotion Through SEAFWA
                             States.
30........................  Social Influencers to Drive   SEAFWA........................               0               0         300,000         300,000
                             R3 in SEAFWA.
31........................  R3 Through Marketing via      WMI...........................               0               0         292,500         292,500
                             Pilot States.
32........................  The Hunter's Network          IHEA..........................               0               0         248,275         248,275
                             National Version.
33........................  Identifying When to Use In-   SAF...........................               0          58,219          58,219         116,438
                             Person vs Virtual R3 Events.
34........................  Development and               PF............................               0               0         236,578         236,578
                             Implementation of a Learn
                             to Hunt Upland Game Digital
                             Course to Strengthen
                             Strategic R3 Efforts of
                             Diverse Hunters.
35........................  Native American               OSCF..........................               0               0         116,000         116,000
                             Participation Research and
                             Outreach.
36........................  Delta Waterfowl's University  DWF...........................               0               0         284,614         284,614
                             Hunting Program.
37........................  Black Hunters: Reclaiming     WMI...........................               0               0         263,329         263,329
                             the Tradition.
38........................  Connecting Different          WMI...........................               0          24,000          48,500          72,500
                             Cultures to Hunting and
                             Fishing Through Food.
39........................  Extending Academics Afield    GWF...........................               0               0         360,458         360,458
                             to Advance Equity in
                             College R3 Programming.
40........................  Hunters Connect Audience      IHEA..........................               0               0         178,530         178,530
                             Expansion.
41........................  MAFWA Small Game Diversity    MAFWA.........................               0               0         220,000         220,000
                             and Inclusion Outreach
                             Toolkit: Phase 2.
42........................  2022-2024 Facilitation of     CAHSS.........................               0               0    1,034,006.91    1,034,006.91
                             National R3 Strategies.
43-NS.....................  2022 National Survey of       NORC..........................       1,251,628       1,251,628               0       2,503,256
                             Fishing, Hunting, and
                             Wildlife-Associated
                             Recreation (5 years).
44-NS.....................  2022 National Survey          USFWS.........................      134,760.50      134,760.50               0         269,521
                             Coordination.
                                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals................  ............................  ..............................    3,560,499.50    3,010,506.47    5,318,864.91   11,889,870.88
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Acronyms and initialisms for all tables are spelled out in the Abbreviations Used in Tables section.



[[Page 42742]]

Martha Williams,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-15214 Filed 7-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P