DOI - Program Plan
Interior Recovery Act - FWS, Resource Management - Recovery Act Recovery Plan
Last updated: 2009-05-14Table of Contents
Click on each of the links below to read the part of the Plan relating to each topic.
Objectives
Program Purpose
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides $165 million for Resource Management projects. The funding provides an unprecedented opportunity for the Service to quickly address numerous deferred maintenance and habitat priorities while supporting the creation of jobs and helping to stimulate the economy.
Public Benefits
**The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developed a comprehensive program plan that describes how Recovery Act programs will be managed and executed. The FWS Program Plan can be found at: http://recovery.doi.gov/plans.php
Additional information about FWS’ Recovery Act program and projects is available at: http://recovery.doi.gov/fws
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From initial project category identification through final project selection, the Service has focused on identifying projects which will quickly create jobs, provide lasting value for the American people and address mission needs. Work will focus on repairing, replacing and enhancing infrastructure at Refuges and Hatcheries, the National Conservation and Training Center and restoring habitat both on and off Service lands. The Recovery Act investments will not only create jobs in the short-term through material purchases, construction contracts, habitat restoration contracts, and other on-the-ground projects, but will also provide long-term economic benefits by investing in local communities.
The proposed projects will enhance the Service’s ability to achieve its mission, enhance the visitor experience at our public lands on National Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries, and enable the Service to work with partners, including the States, to build long-term programs that benefit ecotourism, outdoor recreation, local job creation and youth employment. The Service’s Recovery program addresses programs that support these mission needs and funds ongoing, existing programs that have an existing infrastructure for effective delivery and are based on existing program priorities and address important strategic goals.
Measures
The measures have been revised to enrich the performance metrics for Recovery targets. In some instances, targets will not be available until additional baseline data has been collected.
Schedule and Milestones
**The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developed a comprehensive program plan that describes how Recovery Act programs will be managed and executed. The FWS Program Plan can be found at: http://recovery.doi.gov/plans.php
Additional information about FWS’ Recovery Act program and projects is available at: http://recovery.doi.gov/fws
**
Projects and Activities
Kinds and Scope of Program Activities
1) Deferred Maintenance - $95 - $105.0 million: The objective of the Service’s Recovery Act deferred maintenance projects are to invest in priority critical repair, rehabilitation and maintenance projects that will restore or extend the life of critical facilities at Service properties across the country. This Plan devotes a significant portion of the available funding to address the deferred maintenance needs at Service facilities and includes some energy efficiency retrofits. The priorities for these projects are based on existing merit-based processes including the Service’s 5-Year Plans for deferred maintenance and construction.
2) Habitat Restoration - $40.1 million, 173 projects: Habitat restoration projects are included in this plan to allow restoration of fish and wildlife habitats on National Wildlife Refuges as well as on private lands through a variety of partnership opportunities. These projects are ideal for purposes of the Recovery Act as they support key mission goals for wildlife habitat conservation and partnerships, can quickly be put in place over a wide geographic area, provide employment for local contractors, and result in lasting benefits to the American public by conserving and enriching our fish and wildlife treasures. These projects will also provide high school and college age youth with short-term employment opportunities working on units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The priorities for these projects are based on existing strategic plans and merit-based processes.
3) Capital Improvements - $11.6 million, 22 projects: Capital Improvements include the construction, installation, or assembly of a new asset, or the alteration, expansion, or extension of an existing asset to accommodate a change of function or unmet programmatic needs, or to incorporate new technology. Resource management capital improvements in this Plan focus on improving buildings, fish hatchery water management facilities, and energy savings. The priorities for these projects are based on existing merit-based processes.
Review Process
**The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developed a comprehensive program plan that describes how Recovery Act programs will be managed and executed. The FWS Program Plan can be found at: http://recovery.doi.gov/plans.php
Additional information about FWS’ Recovery Act program and projects is available at: http://recovery.doi.gov/fws
**
The establishment of meaningful and measurable outcomes is an important component of Interior’s Recovery Act reporting. Performance monitoring and oversight efforts are designed to ensure that the Department meets the accountability objectives of the Recovery Act.
These efforts include tracking the progress of key goals. The Department is defining a suite of performance measurements to monitor progress made in accomplishing stated work goals and to ensure financial and procurement practices are executed responsibly. In addition, the Department’s Recovery Act Coordinator is collaborating with senior Departmental officials, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Inspector General to ensure oversight of the program from the first phase of project selection, through implementation and execution. The Coordinator, with the assistance of the Recovery Act Board, will be evaluating processes to ensure that adequate mechanisms are in place and identify and share best practices to promote:
o Maximized use of competitive awards
o Timely and transparent award of dollars
o Timely and appropriate expenditure of dollars
o Verification and timely completion of planned work
o Minimized cost overruns
o Minimized improper payments
Measurement and reporting is a crucial component of Interior’s oversight strategy. The information received will serve as an indicator of progress enabling the Department’s governance entities to manage risk and ensure successful implementation of the Recovery Act. Department-wide, consistent guidance will guide efforts in this regard, including for example, development of a risk management program.
Cost and Performance Plan
**The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has developed a comprehensive program plan that describes how Recovery Act programs will be managed and executed. The FWS Program Plan can be found at: http://recovery.doi.gov/plans.php
Additional information about FWS’ Recovery Act program and projects is available at: http://recovery.doi.gov/fws
**
Reporting requirements related to major contract actions and financial status, including obligations and outlays, are being instituted. Periodic reviews of implementation progress at both the Bureau and Departmental levels will identify the need to realign resources to expedite projects, to modify project plans, or to select contingency projects to ensure funds are obligated within the time limitation. The selection of contingency projects will be included as part of regular reporting through recovery.gov.
The Recovery Coordinator will oversee Bureau implementation to ensure projects address the Department’s high priority goals and objectives, while also working to ensure that department-wide performance objectives, including timeliness and cost and risk management are met throughout the process.
The Office of Inspector General will be working closely with the Department from the
start to review and propose effective processes to manage risks, monitor progress, and to improve overall performance and accountability.
As part of routine reporting, the Department is also carefully tracking all projects subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). During the project selection phase the Department identified which projects had already completed NEPA planning, which are in progress, and which ones still need to begin the NEPA process. The Department will track the status of all NEPA compliance activities associated with projects or activities and report quarterly to the Council on Environmental Quality.
Energy Efficiency Spending Plans
The Service’s Recovery Act project list contains a total of 210 projects that will directly reduce the energy consumption of Service facilities.
Types of Renewable and Efficient Energy Technology Projects
Energy Efficiency/Green Buildings
Tier 1 – Energy Conservation Measures ($21,071,000, 69 projects)
Tier 2 – HVAC and Process Energy Reduction ($13,667,000, 60 projects)
Use of Renewable Energy Sources
Tier 3 – Renewable Energy ($103,906,000, 81 projects)
Renewable energy and energy efficiency projects implement life-cycle cost effective energy conservation measures, process energy reduction strategies, and water conservation technologies, and install renewable energy systems. These projects will address mandated energy and water reduction goals while reducing operational costs at Service field stations and facilities. The Service has segregated these projects into three tiers: Tier 1 - energy conservation measures; Tier 2A - heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; Tier 2B - process energy reduction measures; Tier 3 - renewable energy systems.
Tier 1 energy efficiency/green building initiatives include projects that will: retrofit/replace lights and install energy-efficient lighting systems (T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts); increase insulation; install programmable thermostats; weatherize; replace windows; and replace appliances with ENERGY STAR® appliances and energy efficient freezers. Projects may include conducting energy audits, sub-metering of facilities, and installation of electric meters. Water conservation practices in buildings and landscaping are also included in the Tier 1 category such as installing: low-flow faucets, showerheads, and fixtures; low-flush toilets and waterless urinals; systems for gray water reclamation and recycling; rain gardens; irrigation control systems; water retention or rainwater catchment basins; and xeriscaping (i.e., landscaping in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental irrigation). Xeriscaping is promoted in areas that do not have easily accessible supplies of fresh water.
Tier 2 energy efficiency/green building initiatives reduce more energy and are separated into two subgroups:
• Tier 2A – Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Tier 2A energy efficiency projects include retrofitting energy-inefficient HVAC systems and controls, or installing new or replacement ENERGY STAR® HVAC systems and water heaters.
• Tier 2B – Process energy reduction measures. Tier 2B energy efficiency projects include replacing inefficient electric panels, pumps, motors, and drives; and rehabilitation of energy-intensive systems, predominantly at National Fish Hatcheries (e.g., U/V disinfection).
Tier 3 projects maximize use of renewable energy. Renewable projects produce electrical energy and thermal energy, which are counted differently toward meeting mandated renewable energy reduction goals. Electrical energy renewable projects include installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) power arrays, wind energy systems such as small propeller-type or vertical helix-type wind turbines, and microhydroturbines at National Fish Hatcheries. Thermal renewable energy projects include installation or repair of solar hot water systems, and installation of geothermal (ground-source) heat pumps. These projects will be designed to minimize the Service’s carbon footprint and may result in zero-energy buildings.
Program Plan Award Types
| No Data Available |
Source: Data provided by the Agency through the Office of Management and Budget.
