Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program Update September 2002

              U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Sport Fish and Wildlife
Restoration
Program Update September 2002
Sport Fish
Restoration Program
Table of
Contents
FWS photo
Assistant Director’s Comments 1
Staff Directory, Federal Aid, Washington Office 3
Federal Aid Program—Overview 4
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities 7
Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration 7
State Audits 7
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program 8
Federal Aid Information Management System 8
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation 9
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 9
Multistate Conservation Grant Program 10
National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program 12
Clean Vessel Act 13
State Wildlife Grants 13
Landowner Incentive Program 14
Federal Aid National Training Program 15
New Accomplishment Reporting Codes for Aquatic Education 15
Appendices
(All information and tables previously found in the appendices in earlier Program
Updates are now on the Federal Aid homepage at: http://federalaid.fws.gov/.)
1 September 2002
Assistant
Director’s
Comments
During Fiscal Year 2002, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service)
Division of Federal Aid (Division)
marked a trend toward strengthening
its partnerships with States and key
conservation interests, and thereby
furthering the Service’s mission
and goals.
New programs such as the
Landowner Incentive Program and
State Wildlife Grants offered the
Division additional opportunities to
work with partners to deliver fish
and wildlife conservation benefits.
The Landowner Incentive Program
provides almost $40 million for
State projects that provide funds and
technical assistance to landowners
for conservation work benefitting
endangered, threatened, and at-risk
species. State Wildlife Grants provide
$80 million to States to develop and
implement programs that benefit
wildlife and their habitat, including
species that are not hunted or fished.
To be eligible to receive funds, a
State must commit to develop a
comprehensive wildlife conservation
plan with appropriate priority placed
on those species with the greatest
conservation need.
The Division is working with
States to develop a framework
for Comprehensive Wildlife
Conservation Plans as required
by the Wildlife Conservation and
Restoration Program in FY2001 and
State Wildlife Grants in FY 2002.
A workgroup of State, Federal and
nongovernmental representatives is
giving States additional assistance in
creating useful products and to fulfill
the Congressional mandate to identify
species of concern and focus on the
extent and condition of critical habitat
and to develop strategies for
overcoming problems.
The Division also worked with the
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies to select and award
23 grants under the Multistate Grant
Program totaling $6.1 million in
FY 2002. The Division is developing
a policy and procedures manual
designed to ensure that the Program
continues to operate as smoothly
as it has in the past two years.
In addition, the Division is
developing internal partnerships.
Working nationally with the
Service’s Endangered Species
Program, the Division is awarding
grants and providing financial and
performance reports for Private
Stewardship Program grants. Once
the Endangered Species Program
selects a successful grantee, the
Division makes the award and
tracks the grants through its
regional offices. The Federal Aid
Information Management System
(FAIMS) provides financial and
performance reports for the Service
about these grants.
The Division plans to start its
second round of State audits this
year. The Division is reviewing the
strengths and weaknesses of the
most recent round of audits to build
a better process. The Division is
facilitating the development of a task
force (Federal/State) to help design
the revised audit processes. The
Service is publishing six new audit
chapters in the Service Manual
[Chapters 417 FW 1-6]. These
chapters offer guidance to States
about conducting, resolving findings
of, and closing audits. The chapters
also cover subjects such as audit
objectives, planning, appeals and
Corrective Action Plans.
September 2002 2
FAIMS also has experienced growth
and change. In FY 2002, the FAIMS
team purchased equipment and
software designed to begin making
the transition to electronic grants.
The team then automated the State
license certification process, and plans
are underway for automating the
entire grant process in future years.
Federal Aid’s National Training
Program continues to meet the
needs of our ever-expanding group
of partners. Courses are currently
under development for fiscal
accountability, audits, and dealing
with compliance issues. A course
is also under consideration for
using Group Systems software for
better local and remote meetings
nationwide. This software organizes
remote meetings much like a
facilitator would in a local meeting.
Through growth, change, strong
partnerships and improved services,
the Division is meeting its pledge
to its customers in FY 2002 and
looks forward to new opportunities
in the coming year.
FWS Photo: Tupper Ansel Blake
3 September 2002
Staff Directory
Federal Aid
Washington
Office
Jack Hicks, Regulation, Education
Liaison, Region 6
Tim Hess, Wildlife Conservation
and Restoration Program, Wildlife
Restoration Program, Landowner
Incentive Program, State Wildlife
Grants, Regions 3 & 5
Chris McKay, (Internal partner with
the Recreational Boating and Fishing
Foundation) Multistate Conservation
Grant Program
Branch of Audits and Cash
Management
Lanny Moore, Branch Chief, Audits,
Cash Management
Ord Bargerstock, Systems Accountant,
Regions 4 & 5, Audit Resolution
Kate Gilliam, Systems Accountant,
Regions 1 & 2,Lessons Learned,
Future Audit Plans
Pat McHugh, Systems Accountant,
Regions 3, 6, & 7, Audit Program
Oversight
Branch of Surveys
Sylvia Cabrera, Branch Chief,
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting
and Wildlife Associated Recreation
Richard Aiken, Economist,
National Survey
Genevieve Pullis, Economist,
National Survey
Branch of Training
Steve Leggans, Branch Chief
Julie Schroyer, Administrative Analyst
Blake Weirich, Assistant Training
Coordinator
Kris E. LaMontagne, Division Chief
Larry Bandolin, Deputy Division Chief,
Operations
Vacant, Lead Secretary
Jimmye Kane, Secretary
Branch of Budget and
Administration
Tom Jeffrey, Branch Chief, Budget
Development and Execution,
Program Management
Mary Jones, Administrative Officer
Linda Muhammad, Program Support
Assistant
Tracy Vriens, Program Analyst
Branch of Information Management
Bill Conlin, Branch Chief, Information
Resources and ADP Management,
ADP Support, FAIMS
Lorinda Bennett, Fiscal
Management, Audit Liaison
Jeffrey Graves, Server Support
David Washington, ADP Systems
Support, ADP Acquisition Support,
Web Site Support
Branch of Grants Operations
and Policy
Gary Reinitz, Branch Chief, National
Issue Management
Brian Bohnsack, Sport Fish
Restoration Program, Coastal
Wetlands, Clean Vessel Program,
Boating Infrastructure Grant
Program, Regions 1 & 2
Kim Galvan, Regulation, U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service Manual
Chapters , Section 6 Grants,
Regions 4 & 7
September 2002 4
Federal Aid
Program
Overview
The Federal Aid Program is
responsible for administering
the following Programs:
Wildlife Restoration
Sport Fish Restoration
Clean Vessel Pumpout
Boating Infrastructure Grant
National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant
Wildlife Conservation and Restoration
Multistate Conservation Grant
State Wildlife Grants
Landowner Incentive
In addition, Federal Aid provides
grant management support for
endangered species traditional Section
6, Habitat Conservation Plan Land
Acquisition, Habitat Conservation
Plan planning, and Recovery Land
Acquisition Grant Programs.
Congress approved the Federal
Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act on
September 2, 1937, and it began
functioning on July 1, 1938. The
purpose of this Act is to provide
funding for the restoration,
rehabilitation and improvement of
wildlife habitat, wildlife management
and research, and the distribution of
information produced by the projects.
Congress amended the Act on
October 23, 1970, to include funding
for hunter training programs and
the development, operation, and
maintenance of public target ranges.
An 11 percent Federal excise tax
on sporting arms, ammunition, and
archery equipment, and a 10 percent
tax on handguns funds the program.
Additional funds are also collected
from a 12.4 percent tax on archery
equipment. The Department of the
Interior apportions these funds each
year to the States and Territories
(except Washington, D.C.) based
on formulas set forth in the Act.
Congress passed the Federal Aid
in Sport Fish Restoration Act,
commonly called the Dingell-Johnson
Act on August 9, 1950. It was modeled
after the Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act to create a parallel
program for fish management,
conservation, and restoration. To
participate in this Program, States
must pass legislation that ensures
that the State fishery agency retains
license revenues for use in managing
their agency. A 10 percent Federal
excise tax on fishing rods, reels,
creels, lures, flies, and artificial baits,
and a 3 percent tax on electronic
fishing motors and sonar fish finders
funds the Program. The Department
of the Interior also apportions these
funds each year to the States and
Territories under a formula based
on each State’s land and water area
and number of licensed anglers.
FWS Photo
5 September 2002
Congress passed the Clean Vessel
Act in 1992 to help reduce pollution
from vessel sewage discharges.
The Act established a Federal grant
program to the States, administered
by the Service and funded at $10
million annually by the Sport Fish
Restoration Account of the Aquatic
Resources Trust Fund. Federal
funds can reimburse up to 75 percent
of all approved project costs with
the remaining funds provided by
the States or marinas. Grants
are available to the States on a
competitive basis for the construction
and/or renovation, operation and
maintenance of pumpout and
portable toilet dump stations.
After States submit grant proposals
to the Service for review, the
Division then convenes a panel
including representatives from the
Division’s Washington Office, the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the Environmental
Protection Agency, and the U.S. Coast
Guard to rank proposals. The Service
awards grants shortly afterward.
The Transportation Equity Act
for the 21st Century (TEA21)
reauthorized CVA through FY 2003.
The Boating Infrastructure Grant
(BIG) Program provides $32 million
over four years (2000- 2003) for
grants to the States and Territories.
The purpose of the grants is to
encourage States, in cooperation
with local and private interests, to
construct, renovate and maintain
tie-up facilities for non-trailerable
recreational boats (26 feet or more
in length). The Sport Fishing and
Boating Partnership Council and
Service panel annually recommends
grants for funding to the Service.
The Coastal Wetlands Planning,
Protection and Restoration Act
receives 18 percent of the Sport Fish
Restoration Account or 100 percent
of the excise tax on small engine fuel
(whichever is greater). The National
Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant
Program receives 15 percent of these
funds (not to exceed $15 million). We
award Coastal Wetlands grants to
States and Territories for coastal
wetlands acquisition, restoration, and
enhancement. Congress reauthorized
the Coastal Wetlands Planning,
Protection and Restoration Act in
November 2000 through FY 2009.
Congress authorized the Multistate
Conservation Grant Program
under the Wildlife and Sport Fish
Restoration Programs Improvement
Act of 2000. It can award up to $6
million annually, with half the funds
coming from each of the Sport Fish
and Wildlife Restoration Programs.
These grants must benefit half
the States, most of the States in
a Service Region, or a regional
association of State fish and game
departments. In FY 2001 and FY
2002, the Service issued the full
amount in grants.
Section 6 of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 established
a grant program available to any
State agency or agencies, or other
government entities, with authority to
conserve resident species of fish and
wildlife or plants deemed threatened
or endangered. Prerequisites for
participation in grants under Section
6 are that a State establishes and
maintains an adequate and active
program for the conservation of
endangered and threatened species
and has entered into a cooperative
agreement with the Secretary of the
Interior. The State must also meet
the requirements for an adequate
and active program described in
50 CFR 81 and the Service Manual,
chapter 521 FW 4.
Two task forces composed of Federal
and State members are forming
to address Federal Aid audit and
policy issues.
Federal Aid Program Overview
FWS Photo:Tom VandenBerg
September 2002 6
The Joint Federal/State Task Force
on the next Federal Aid Audit Cycle
will perform the following functions.
n Define the audit objectives for
Federal Aid audits;
n Define the protocol for Federal Aid
audits; and
n Develop training and guidance for
the auditors and States for Federal
Aid audits.
The Joint Federal/State Task Force
on Federal Aid Policy will provide a
forum for the Service and State fish
and wildlife agencies to cooperatively
identify Federal Aid Program issues
of national significance and to jointly
develop recommendations to the
Director concerning those issues.
For FY 2002, $7.52 million was
provided for the traditional Section 6
grant program. Funds are distributed
among the Service’s Regions based
on the number of “counted” species
found within the States in the Region
and then to the States within a Region
based on a Regional competition.
Additional Section 6 programs in FY
2002 include: Habitat Conservation
Plan Land Acquisition, $61.3 million;
Habitat Conservation Plan Planning,
$6.65 million; Recovery Land
Acquisition, $17.8 million; and
$3 million for administration. For
traditional Section 6 grants, the
Federal share is 75 percent, but can
go up to 90 percent when two or more
States cooperate on an eligible grant.
The State Wildlife Grants and
Landowner Incentive Program were
initiated through the Department of
the Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2002. This Act
included $85 million (of which $5
million was allocated to Tribes) for
State Wildlife Grants and $40 million
(of which $5 million was allocated to
Tribes) for Landowner Incentive
Program for State agencies and
Tribes. The formula-based State
Wildlife Grants Program will fund a
wide range of projects to benefit
wildlife species with the greatest
conservation need. Grants for the
Tribal portion of the State Wildlife
Grants Program are competitive.
The Landowner Incentive Program
awards grants to States and Tribes on
a competitive basis. The funds go
to provide technical and financial
assistance to landowners for the
protection and management of habitat
to benefit Federally listed, proposed
or candidate species or other at-risk
species on private lands. States have
received implementation guidelines
for the State Wildlife Grants Program
and implementation guidelines for the
Landowner Incentive Program were
in the Federal Register. The Service’s
External Affairs Program will
implement the Tribal portion of these
Programs with Federal Aid providing
fiscal administration. The Programs
are designed to help conserve,
develop and enhance the Nation’s fish
and wildlife resources, and to protect
their habitats for the continuing
benefit of the American people.
FWS Photo: Dave Menke
7 September 2002
Focus on
Specific
Programs and
Activities
Federal Aid in Sport
Fish Restoration
The total apportionment for FY 2002
from the Sport Fish Restoration
Program was $292,786,775—an
all-time high for the Program.
Beyond providing the record amount
of Federal funds, this Program
also protected fishing license fees
($490,847,502) paid to States from
diversion to other agencies or
for purposes other than the
administration of the State
fishery agencies.
In the coming year, Congress has
scheduled a major funding component
of this Program for reauthorization.
Specifically, the legislation affecting
the transfer of motorboat and small
engine fuels taxes to the Aquatic
Resources Trust Fund expires in
FY 2003. Taxes from these sources
currently provide almost 40%
of the total funds available for
apportionment from this Program.
The American League of Anglers
and Boaters, the International
Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies, and other conservation
groups are leading efforts to get the
Program reauthorized.
State Audits
The Service published six audit
chapters in the Federal Register
for comment in December 2001.
The revised chapters will become
part of the Service’s Manual.
The chapters establish policy and
responsibilities for grantee audits,
define terms associated with audits,
and provide an overview of the audit
process. In addition, they establish
policies and procedures for audit
objectives, planning, conducting,
reporting, resolution, and appeals.
The establishment of these policies
and procedures will enhance the
ongoing audit process.
Chapter 1 provides terms associated
with the audit and an overview of the
audit process. Chapter 2 identifies
the programmatic and financial
elements of audits. Chapter 3
provides procedures for conducting
and reporting on audits of Federal
Aid Program grantees. Chapter 4
establishes policy and procedures for
resolving findings and implementing
recommendations. Included in this
chapter are timelines of the audit
resolution process. Chapter 5
establishes policy and procedures
for appealing Service determinations
or corrective actions. Chapter 6
establishes Service policy for
resolving findings and implementing
recommendations from audits of
Federal Aid Program grantees
under the Single Audit Act. The
audit chapters will enhance the
Service’s ability to complete audits
in a timely manner.
All of the field work for the recent
past audit cycle has been completed.
All reports from the recent audits
will be done by September 2002.
We anticipate audit planning for
the next cycle of audits to begin in
October 2002 and the audit field
work to begin early in 2003.
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities
September 2002 8
Boating Infrastructure
Grant Program
The Sportfishing and Boat Safety Act
of 1998 authorized the BIG Program
at $32 million over four fiscal years
($8 million annually) to encourage
States, in cooperation with local
and private interests, to construct,
renovate, and maintain tie-up facilities
for non-trailerable recreational boats
(26 feet or more in length). The U.S.
Coast Guard estimates 825,000 boats
in the U.S. as nontrailerable. Because
of their size, these boats can require
special facilities for docking and
mooring and many marinas cannot
meet the needs of this constituency.
Unless Congress reauthorizes BIG,
the FY 2003 allocation will be the
last for the BIG Program.
Besides establishing the BIG
Program, the Act required the
Service to adopt a national framework
(a survey) for a public boating access
needs assessment, and directed the
Service to prepare a comprehensive
national assessment of recreational
boating access needs and facilities.
The Office of Management and
Budget notified the Service that they
did not approve a revised survey in
March 2002. OMB’s concerns focused
on the actual survey methods. The
Service is evaluating options available
regarding the national boating
needs assessment.
The BIG Program has two funding
levels or tiers. Tier-1 grants
provide up to $100,000 per fiscal year
to each State on a noncompetitive
basis for construction, renovation,
and maintenance of tie-up facilities.
Tier-2 grants to States are awarded
competitively. The value of funds
available for Tier-2 grants in a
given fiscal year is the amount
remaining after awarding Tier-1
grants. This works out to
approximately a 50/50 split of the
annual $8 million allocation.
The Service announced to the States
in July 2002 that it is accepting
proposals for the FY 2003 allocation
of BIG funds. States must submit
proposals for both Tier-1 and Tier-2
to the Service’s Regional offices by
September 30, 2002. The Service will
announce awards later this year.
Federal Aid Information
Management System
FAIMS is critical to the reconciliation
of grant fiscal information between
Health and Human Services,
Federal Aid, and the Division of
Finance. The checks and balances
built into FAIMS ensure the
integrity of Federal Aid’s fiscal data
as confirmed by the KPMG.
In FY 2002 Federal Aid Program
emphasis for FAIMS will be
placed on:
n Improving the timeliness and
quality of grant objectives and
accomplishment information in
FAIMS. FAIMS is frequently used
to provide not only an accounting of
fiscal information, but also objectives
and resource benefits accomplished.
There will be an increase in audit
emphasis on the full range of grant
management procedures. The
Service’s efforts this year will be to
close the loop on the performance
reporting aspect.
n Web-enabling of the annual license
certification process and interfacing
it to the apportionment process.
The FAIMS Team is developing a
website that States can use to submit
their license certifications to the
Service. The Service will test and
complete this in FY 2003. The
Service formed a FAIMS State User
Acceptance Team consisting of State
representatives from across the
country who will help define system
requirements and test and finalize
the application. The Department
selected the e-Certification project
as one of its e-Government initiatives
and is monitoring its success.
n Developing capability to provide
Internet access to FAIMS
information, such as fiscal reports,
grant status, grant objectives, and
accomplishment information. The
FAIMS team is developing the
capability to make various FAIMS
reports and information available
through the Internet.
9 September 2002
National Survey of Fishing,
Hunting and Wildlife
Associated Recreation
The 2001 Survey is the 10th
sponsored by the Service since
1955. The Service has conducted
the Survey every five years at the
request of State fish and wildlife
agencies, and it has become one
of the Nation’s most important
sources of information on wildlife-related
recreation.
In March 1999, the Survey
Grants-in-Aid Subcommittee of the
International Association of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies recommended
that the Service conduct a survey
in 200l. In June 1999, the Service
signed an agreement with the Bureau
of Census (Census) to collect the
information and produce the
reports. Service staff met with State
technical committee members and
non- governmental organizations to
determine survey content. Federal
agencies and other major survey
users also provided input.
In April and May 2001, Census
conducted the first detailed interview
wave. Census collected information
through computer-assisted interviews
conducted primarily by telephone.
Census completed screening
interviews of over 52,000 households.
These interviews identified samples
of 30,000 sportsmen (anglers and
hunters) and 15,000 wildlife watchers
(wildlife feeders, observers, and
photographers) for the Survey’s
detailed interview phase.
Census asked respondents about
their 2001 activities and expenditures
in three detailed interview waves
conducted in May and September
2001, and in January 2002.
Interviewers completed data
collection on February 28, 2002. The
response rate for the detailed data
collection phase was 92%.
In 2001, 82 million U.S. residents —
39% of the population 16 years and
older — participated in some type
of wildlife-related recreation. Five
million more participated in 2001 than
in 1996, the last time the survey was
conducted. Anglers, hunters, and
wildlife watchers spent $108 billion
pursuing their activities. These
expenditures accounted for 1.1 %
of the Nation’s total gross domestic
product. Of the sportsmen, 34 million
fished and 13 million hunted. Sixty-six
million wildlife enthusiasts observed,
fed or photographed wildlife around
their homes or on trips in 2001.
A comparison of 2001 and 1996
estimates shows a mixed picture.
While total participation in all
wildlife-related recreation increased,
participation in fishing did not change
significantly, wildlife watching
increased by 5%, and hunting
decreased by 7%. The decrease in
hunting was due to decline in small
game hunting and other animal
hunting (raccoon, groundhog, etc.).
Big game hunting and migratory
bird hunting held steady.
The Service began releasing
preliminary information in May 2002.
The first report contains preliminary
national estimates; the second,
preliminary State information.
Both reports are accessible
through the following website:
http://federalaid.fws.gov/
A CD-ROM with all the survey data
on it will be available in September.
The final National Report and a Quick
Facts brochure will be released in
October. The 50 State reports will
be released in alphabetical order
beginning in November.
Wildlife and Sport Fish
Restoration Programs
Improvement Act of 2000
As required by the Act, a Report
to Congress was prepared and
forwarded to Congress in late
August 2001 and can be found
on the Federal Aid Home Page
http://federalaid.fws.gov/. This report
details actions taken by the Division
to implement the Wildlife and Sport
Fish Restoration Programs
Improvement Act of 2000.
The Act reduces the funding available
for administering the Wildlife and
Sport Fish Restoration Programs.
Federal Aid will implement other
cuts to comply with these limits and
will apportion cost savings resulting
from administrative reductions to
the States via the normal allocation
formula. To date, Federal Aid has
apportioned $8.6 million of the
administrative savings to the States.
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities
FWS Photo: Dave Menke
September 2002 10
Multistate Conservation
Grant Program
The Multistate Conservation Grant
Program, authorized under the
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration
Programs Improvement Act of 2000,
awarded a second annual round
of multistate grants in FY 2002.
Furthering the partnership between
the Service and the States, Congress
stipulated that the International
Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies would collect, consider
and recommend grant proposals
for funding under this Program.
The Service intends the Program
to fund grants meeting national
conservation needs as defined by the
International Association of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies and benefitting
a majority of the States majority
of States in a Service Region, or a
regional association of State fish
and game departments.
Using pre-established national
conservation needs criteria, the
International Association of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies recommended
grants for funding during FY 2002.
With concurrence from the Service
Director, Federal Aid funded 23
grants, totaling $6.1 million.
The Division’s support for the
Program focuses on grants
administration, project monitoring,
communications, and technical
assistance. In addition, the Division
drafted a procedures manual for
the Multistate Conservation Grant
Program this year.
Complete list of Multistate Conservation Grants Funded for FY 2002
Organization Grant Amount
American Sportfishing Association, The 2001 Economic Contributions of Sportfishing $73,044
Alexandria, VA
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and $2,865,032
Arlington, VA Wildlife-Associated Recreation
International Association of Fish and Representation of the Northeastern, Southeastern, $38,000 FY 2002
Wildlife Agencies, Washington, D.C. Midwest, and Western Associations of Fish and Wildlife $38,000 FY 2003
Agencies in International Conventions and Protocols $38,000 FY 2004
New Computer Models for Trap Testing in the Development $76,791
of Best Management Practices
Management Assistance Team 2002 $496,680
International Association of Fish The 2001 Economic Contributions of Hunting $76,992
and Wildlife Agencies’s Animal Use
Issues Task Force, Washington, D.C.
States Organization for Boating Pumpout Equipment Standards and Lifecycle Testing $299,000
Access, Washington, D.C.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources The Need to Develop a Geographic Information System $33,750
Agency, Nashville, TN to Facilitate Integrated Bird Conservation in the Central
Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region
Western Association of Fish and Sage-Grouse Interstate Working Group Coordinator $120,000 FY 2002
Wildlife Agencies, Reno, NV $105,000 FY 2003
$105,000 FY 2004
Instream Flow Council, Cheyenne, WY Instream Flows for Riverine Resource Stewardship $16,650
continued
11 September 2002
Complete list of Multistate Conservation Grants Funded for FY 2002 (continued)
Organization Grant Amount
National Shooting Sports Step Outside: creating outreach opportunities through $171,000
Foundation, Newtown, CT partnership development and marketing
KRA Corporation, Silver Spring, MD Fish and Wildlife Reference Service Managing and $413,935
Providing Information to State Wildlife and
Natural Resource Agencies
Department of Biological Sciences, Fate and Effect of the Aquaculture Therapeutic $59,915 FY 2002
Arkansas State University, Potassium Permanganate $117,616 FY 2003
State University, AR $68,445 FY 2004
International Association of Fish Coordination of Vegetation Establishment and $75,000 FY 2000
and Wildlife Agencies’s Agricultural Management on Conservation Reserve Program Lands $75,000 FY 2003
Conservation Task Force,
Washington, D.C.
Wildlife Management Institute, Understanding the Relationship Between Waterfowl $61,450
Washington, D.C. Hunting Regulations and Hunter Satisfaction/Participation
International Association of Fish and Development and Validation of Determinative Analytical $49,335 FY 2002
Wildlife Agencies’s Fisheries and Method for the Marker Residue of AQUI-S, a Fish $162,058 FY 2003
Water Resources Policy Committee, Anesthetic for Public Fish Facilities and Fishery Management $89,371 FY 2004
Washington, D.C.
Development of a Model for Infecting Fish with $105,651
Columnaris to Facilitate Pivotal Efficacy Trials for
Treating the Disease with Candidate Therapeutants
New Animal Drug Application (NADA) for $96,921 FY 2002
Oxytetracycline Immersion Therapy for Diseases of $108,006 FY 2003
Cool and Warm Water Fish Species Cultured on $70,400 FY 2004
Public Fish Facilities
International Association of Fish and Multistate Conservation Grant Program Coordination $88,920 FY 2002
Wildlife Agencies’s Executive $88,920 FY 2003
Committee, Washington, D.C.
Future Fisherman Foundation, Support for State “Hooked On Fishing—Not On Drugs” $294,200 FY 2002
Alexandria, VA and Fishing Tackle Loaner Programs $262,000 FY 2003
International Association of Fish and Bird Conservation for the Nation: Implementation of $250,000
Wildlife Agencies’s Migratory Bird All-Bird Conservation
Committee, Washington, D.C.
International Association of Fish and Outreach Best Management Practices $200,000
Wildlife Agencies’s Furbearer
Resources Task Force, Washington, D.C.
Council for Environmental Education, Science and Civics, Sustaining Wildlife, Involving High $52,656 FY 2002
Houston, TX School Students and Addressing Wildlife Needs $57,658 FY 2003
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities
September 2002 12
National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant Program
The Coastal Wetlands Planning,
Protection and Restoration Act
(16 U.S.C. 3951-3956) authorizes
the Director of the Service to make
matching grants to coastal States,
including those for the acquisition,
restoration, enhancement,
management and preservation of
coastal wetlands. Coastal wetlands
support a high percentage of our
nation’s threatened and endangered
species, fishery resources, migratory
songbirds, migrating and wintering
waterfowl. For the purposes of this
Act, the definition of a coastal wetland
ecosystem also applies to the Great
Lakes and their watersheds. These
grants are available annually on
a competitive basis to coastal
States through the National Coastal
Wetlands Conservation Grant
program. Funding for this Program
comes from the Sport Fish
Restoration Account. Excise taxes
on fishing equipment, motorboat
and small engine fuels support it.
Since the Service began awarding
grants in 1992, we have awarded
approximately $105 million to 25
States and 1 U.S. territory to protect
and/or restore about 130,000 acres
of coastal wetland ecosystems.
The Program’s emphases on
encouraging partnerships, supporting
watershed planning and leveraging
ongoing projects has helped stretch
program funds. The resource
benefits of this Program have
included habitat protection and
restoration for migratory birds,
shorebirds, waterfowl, endangered
and threatened species, and fish
and shellfish.
The Service has recently finalized
the new rule for this Program. Since
its inception, the National Coastal
Wetlands Conservation Grant
Program was administered using
internal interim guidance and the
standard grant administration
policies of our Federal Aid Program.
The new rule was developed using
significant input from State
conservation agencies and other
Program cooperators. We published
the Program’s proposed rule in the
Federal Register in August 2001
for public comments. Nine State
government agencies commented
on the draft rule. These comments
covered a wide range of topics and the
Service updated the rule in response
to many of these suggestions. Changes
were then subjected to additional
internal review within the Service and
also by OMB.
In FY 2002, the National Coastal
Wetlands Conservation Grant
Program awarded nearly $14.5 million
in grants for 20 projects to 10 States to
protect, restore and enhance coastal
wetlands. More than $57 million
from State and private partners
will augment the grant-funded
projects. Although State agencies
are recipients of the grants,
many projects have multiple
partners including: local and
Federal government agencies;
Tribes; companies; conservation
and service organizations; and
private landowners.
States submitted a total of 42
proposals for the 2003 funding
allocation for this Program. A panel of
Service representatives from several
divisions and Regions met in early
August 2002 to review the current
proposals. The panel provided the
Service’s Director with their funding
recommendations. The Director
will announce the Program awards
in October 2002.
Through the National Coastal
Wetlands Conservation Grant
Program, the Service provides up
to $15 million annually. Results of
the last five years are as follows:
National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program—5 Year Summary
Fiscal Year # of Projects Awarded Acres
1998 20 $9.8M 12,680
1999 18 $9.8M 24,900
2000 25 $11.8M 5,500
2001 22 $15M 11,350
2002 20 $14.5M 27,700
13 September 2002
Clean Vessel Act
Congress passed
the Clean Vessel
Act in 1992 to
help reduce
pollution from
vessel sewage
discharges. The Act established a
Federal grant program to the States.
It’s administered by the Service and
funded by the Sport Fish Restoration
Account of the Aquatic Resource’s
Trust Fund. Federal funds can cover
up to 75 percent of all approved
project costs with the remaining
funds provided by the States or
marinas. Approximately $10 million
is available annually for this Program.
Grants are available to the States
on a competitive basis for the
construction and/or renovation,
operation and maintenance of
pumpout and portable toilet dump
stations, and for education programs
that teach recreational boaters the
importance of proper disposal of their
sewage. Federal Aid staff review and
rank proposals as do a panel including
representatives from the Divisions’
Washington Office, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the Environmental
Protection Agency, and the U.S.
Coast Guard. The panel presents a
non-binding recommendation to the
Service’s Director regarding their
ranking of project proposals.
A total of $10.1 million was available
for the FY 2002 grant cycle. This
included the combined amounts
available from the carryover of
unobligated or de-obligated funds
from previous years and the FY 2002
allocation. There were 33 project
proposals totaling $14.6 million
submitted by State agencies for the
available funds. Thirty three projects
were funded, although some at lower
level than requested. Seventeen
coastal pumpout proposals received a
total of $6.2 million in funding and 16
inland proposals received $3.9 million.
The latter funding was an all time
high for inland programs.
States may submit proposals for
FY 2003 this fall and grants will be
awarded early next year.
State Wildlife Grants
President Bush signed the
Department of the Interior and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act,
2002, into law on November 5, 2001.
This bill included $80 million for
wildlife conservation grants to States
and Territories, and $5 million to
Tribes under the State Wildlife
Grants Program. The Act directed the
apportionment of funds on a formula
basis to the States based on land
area and population. Grants for the
Tribal portion of the State Wildlife
Grants Program will be awarded
competitively. The FY 2002 State
Wildlife Grants funds will be available
for obligation by the States until
September 30, 2003, after which
remaining unobligated funds will
be reapportioned.
The Service designed the State
Wildlife Grants Program to assist
States by providing Federal funds for
the development and implementation
of Programs that benefit wildlife and
their habitat, including species that
are not hunted or fished. It permits
both planning and implementation
of programs. The Federal share for
planning grants may not exceed 75%
and may not exceed 50% for other
types of grants. To establish eligibility
for these funds, the States and
Territories must first submit or
commit to develop by October 1,
2005, a Comprehensive Wildlife
Conservation Plan. Once a State has
done this, it may then submit grant
proposals, grant agreements
and associated documents to the
appropriate Regional Federal Aid
Office for review and approval.
In using State Wildlife Grants
funds, as with other Federal grant
programs, the States must comply
with the Administrative Rules,
43 CFR Part 12, the National
Environmental Policy Act, section 7
of the Endangered Species Act, and
other applicable Federal laws and
regulations. Grant documents must
include descriptions of each project’s
purpose and need, objectives,
approach, time line, cost, location(s),
and the expected benefits.
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities
September 2002 14
Federal Aid has worked closely
with State representatives and
other stakeholders gathering
input to ensure smooth Program
implementation. The Regions and key
State representatives reviewed draft
State Wildlife Grants implementation
guidelines. A work group of Federal
Aid and State representatives
helped finalize the recommendations.
Final State Wildlife Grants (FY 2002)
Implementation Guidelines were
forwarded from the Director to
the State wildlife agencies during
late March, and clarifications to
these guidelines regarding wildlife
education (limited), wildlife law
enforcement (limited), and wildlife-associated
recreation (not eligible)
followed in early May 2002. The
Service conducted five State Wildlife
Grants workshops during the months
of April and May 2002 to simplify
this Program’s implementation.
Landowner Incentive Program
Congress funded the Landowner
Incentive Program, authorized in
the FY 2002 Interior Appropriations
Bill, with $40 million derived from the
Land and Water Conservation Fund.
It provides competitive matching
grants to States, Territories, the
District of Columbia, and Tribes. The
Service will allocate tribes $4 million,
$34.8 million to the States and
Territories, and $1.2 million will
be for Federal Aid administrative
costs. The grants will establish or
supplement landowner incentive
programs that provide technical
and financial assistance to private
landowners for projects that protect
and restore habitats of listed species
or species determined to be at-risk.
Landowner Incentive Program
projects will likely involve activities
such as the restoration of marginal
farmlands to wetlands, the removal
of exotic plants to restore natural
prairies, a change in grazing practices
and fencing to enhance important
riparian habitats, instream structural
improvements to benefit aquatic
species, road closures to protect
habitats and reduce harassment of
wildlife, and conservation easements.
The Service requires a minimum 25%
non- Federal share of project costs.
The Service received initial comments
regarding draft Landowner Incentive
Program implementation guidelines
from State Directors and the
Regional Offices. Subsequently,
a working group of key State and
Federal Aid representatives met to
further discuss Landowner Incentive
Program implementation and
selection criteria used in evaluating
the grant proposals. Federal Aid
published a Notice and Request for
Comments (proposed implementation
guidelines) for the Landowner
Incentive Program in the Federal
Register on June 7, 2002. The
Service has reviewed the public
comments and is preparing the final
Federal Register Notice and Request
for Proposals for publishing.
Subsequently, States and Territories
will submit grant proposals to the
Service for scoring and prioritization
during a 60-day submission period
likely to be in late September or early
October, 2002. Once Service staff
prepare award recommendations,
the Director will review and approve
those of high merit (subject to
the final approval of the Assistant
Secretary for Policy, Management
and Budget). The Service will notify
States of the awards and help States
meet Federal grant requirements.
Any funds not obligated during the
first round of competition will be
available in one or more future
rounds until spent.
The Service worked closely with
internal and external stakeholders
to communicate proposed processes
and procedures and receive feedback.
Federal Aid is working closely with
the Endangered Species Division as
they develop the similarly-focused
Private Stewardship Grant Program.
FWS Photo: J. & K. Hollingsworth
15 September 2002
Federal Aid National
Training Program
The National Federal Aid Training
Program functions as part of the
Washington Office of Federal Aid.
The training program develops and
delivers grants management training
for Federal Aid staff and State
fish and wildlife agency grantees.
These training courses increase
the knowledge, skills and abilities
of State and Federal personnel who
manage Federal Aid grants. This
training helps to ensure that Federal
Aid grant managers consistently
apply the laws, rules and policies
that govern Federal Aid Program
administration.
Almost 600 State and Federal Aid
staff have received grants training
specifically to our grant programs
through courses developed by or
offered in cooperation with the
Federal Aid Training Program. That
number includes 315 Basic Grants
Management Course graduates, 227
Project Leaders Course graduates,
and 54 participants in a boating grant
writing workshop. An April 2002
needs assessment showed a
continuing need for basic training in
grants management, fiscal grants
management, project leaders courses
and other specialized grant program
training. Currently, Basic Grants
Management courses are scheduled
once each year. Since the Project
Leaders Course pilot in March 2000,
interest and demand for the State
specific Federal Aid Project Leaders
Course has grown. Six Project
Leaders Courses, were completed in
FY 2002. We also plan nine Project
Leaders Courses customized for
State’s individual needs for FY 2003.
The Service is also developing a
course for Federal Aid fiscal
managers and a compliance issue
course.
The Federal Aid Training
Program also provides training
tools, resources, instructors and
assistance in developing other grant
management training. To date, this
training has focused on grant writing
skills for the Boating Infrastructure
Grant Program, Clean Vessel
Program and boating access grants.
Course descriptions, an on-line
application, training materials and
grant manager’s resources are
available on Federal Aid’s Training
Program Internet site at:
http://training.fws.gov/fedaid/
New Accomplishment
Reporting Codes for
Aquatic Education
Aquatic Education Codes
2511 Students/Participants
2512 New Educators Trained
2561 Construction
2581 Program Costs
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities
FWS photo. Ryan Hagerty.
16 September 2002
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Division of Federal Aid
http://www.fws.gov