20676 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2001 / Notices

Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box

1306, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103.

Persons wishing to review the EA/HCP

may obtain a copy by contacting Sybil

Vosler, Ecological Services Field Office,

10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin,

Texas 78758 (512/490–0063).

Documents will be available for public

inspection by written request, by

appointment only, during normal

business hours (8 to 4:30) U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, Austin, Texas. Written

data or comments concerning the

application(s) and EA/HCPs should be

submitted to the Field Supervisor,

Ecological Field Office, Austin, Texas at

the above address. Please refer to permit

number TE–040090–0 when submitting

comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sybil Vosler at the above Austin

Ecological Service Field Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9

of the Act prohibits the ‘‘taking’’ of

endangered species such as the goldencheeked warbler. However, the Service,

under limited circumstances, may issue

permits to take endangered wildlife

species incidental to, and not the

purpose of, otherwise lawful activities.

Regulations governing permits for

endangered species are at 50 CFR 17.22.

Applicant: Ribelin Ranch Partners,

Ltd., Lucia Francis, and Charles Ribelin

plan to construct residential and

commercial development on 160 acres

of the approximately 740-acre Ribelin

Ranch Property on R.M. 2222, Austin,

Travis County, Texas. This action will

indirectly impact the habitat of the

golden-cheeked warbler. The

development will eliminate

approximately 168 acres of goldencheeked warbler habitat which may

result in the take of 10 to 12 goldencheeked warbler territories. The

applicant proposes to compensate for

this incidental take of golden-cheeked

warbler habitat by preserving 240 acres

of GCW habitat in perpetuity;

minimization of on-site habitat

destruction; education and

encouragement of the homeowners in

the use of xeriscaping, clearing only

between August 1 to March 1 when the

warblers are not present; and

prohibition of deer and bird feeders that

encourage the growth of populations of

species that parasitize, predate or outcompete the golden-cheeked warbler or

destroy its habitat. Alternatives to this

action were rejected because not

developing the subject property with

federally listed species present was not

economically feasible and alteration of

the project design would increase the

impacts.

Geoffrey L. Haskett,

Acting Regional Director, Region 2,

Albuquerque, New Mexico.

[FR Doc. 01–10063 Filed 4–23–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Procedures for Selecting and Funding

Multistate Conservation Grants Under

the Federal Aid in Sport Fish and

Wildlife Restoration Programs

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Service is announcing

procedures for obtaining funding for

multistate conservation project grants

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Number 15.628) for FY 2002. Up to

$3,043,255 is available for these grants

in Wildlife Restoration funds and up to

$3,265,392 in Sport Fish Restoration

funds.

DATES: Grant application materials must

be received by the International

Association of Fish and Wildlife

Agencies (IAFWA) by June 15, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Grant application materials

may be mailed or e-mailed to: Mr.

Robert L. Miles, International

Association of Fish and Wildlife

Agencies, 444 N. Capitol Street NW.,

Suite 544, Washington, DC 20001;

phone, (202) 624–7890; e-mail,

rmiles@sso.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Regarding a specific grant: Mr. Robert

L. Miles, International Association of

Fish and Wildlife Agencies; phone,

(202) 624–7890; e–mail, rmiles@sso.org.

Regarding the Multistate Conservation

Grant Program: Mr. Kris E. LaMontagne,

Chief, Division of Federal Aid, U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service; phone, (703) 358–

2156; e-mail,

kris_e_lamontagne@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Service publishes a Notice in the

Federal Register each year announcing

the deadline for project proposals, the

amount of money available for

multistate conservation project grants,

and the National Conservation Needs.

National Conservation Needs are

established annually to promote and

encourage efforts that address priority

needs of State fish and wildlife

agencies.

National Conservation Needs

contained in this Notice were developed

by the IAFWA through a committee

consisting of heads of State fish and

wildlife agencies (or their designees).

The committee developed the National

Conservation Needs in consultation

with nongovernmental organizations

that represent conservation

organizations, sportsmen’s

organizations, and industries that

support or promote sport fishing,

hunting, trapping, recreational shooting,

bow hunting, or archery. National

Conservation Needs are provided as a

guide so that applicants will know the

types of projects that will likely be

funded.

Eligible grantees are a State or group

of States; the Service, or a State or group

of States, for the purpose of carrying out

the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting,

and Wildlife-Associated Recreation; or

nongovernmental organizations, subject

to the following restrictions.

Nongovernmental organizations that

apply for a grant must submit with the

application to the IAFWA a certification

that the organization will not use grant

funds to fund, in whole or in part, any

activity that promotes or encourages

opposition to the regulated hunting or

trapping of wildlife, or the regulated

taking of fish.

The Department of the Interior has

promulgated rules (43 CFR part 12)

adopting common rules developed by

the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) as required by OMB Circulars A–

102 and A–110 that contain

administrative requirements that apply

to these grants. This annual grant

program contains information collection

requirements for which approval by the

OMB under the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1995, as specified in 43 CFR part

12.4, has been obtained (OMB control

number 1018–0109, expires January 31,

2004, and 1018–0049, expires

September 30, 2003). The Application

for Federal Assistance (the Standard

Form 424 series) prescribed by OMB

Circulars A–102 and A–110 and

required as part of this application

process have the OMB control number

0348–0043.

A. Purpose

This statement establishes procedures

for selecting multistate conservation

project proposals to be funded through

the Federal Aid in Sport Fish and

Wildlife Restoration Programs for the

purpose of promoting and encouraging

efforts that address priority needs of

State fish and wildlife agencies. These

projects are funded through grants to a

State or group of States; the Service, or

a State or group of States, for the

purpose of carrying out the National

Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2001 / Notices 20677

Wildlife-Associated Recreation; or

nongovernmental organizations.

B. Background

The mission of the Multistate

Conservation Grant Program is to

strengthen the ability of State and

Territorial fish and wildlife agencies to

meet effectively the consumptive and

nonconsumptive needs of the public for

fish and wildlife resources. The Federal

Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act and

the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration

Act as amended by the Wildlife and

Sport Fish Restoration Programs

Improvement Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106–

408) authorize the Secretary of the

Interior to make not more than

$6,000,000 available annually under the

Federal Aid Program for the purpose of

funding multistate conservation project

grants.

C. Availability of Funds

In Fiscal Year 2002, the amount of

funds estimated to be available for

multistate conservation project grants is

$6,308,647 through the Federal Aid in

Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration

Programs. This figure includes $308,647

unobligated funds carried over from

Fiscal Year 2001.

D. Period of Availability

Amounts made available under this

Program for multistate conservation

project grants will remain available for

making grants only for the first fiscal

year for which the amount is made

available and the following fiscal year

(available for obligation for two fiscal

years).

E. Eligible Grantees

A multistate conservation project

grant may be made only to:

1. A State or group of States;

2. The Service, or a State or group of

States, for the purpose of carrying out

the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting,

and Wildlife-Associated Recreation; or

3. Nongovernmental organizations,

subject to the following restrictions. A

nongovernmental organization that

applies for a grant must submit with the

application to the IAFWA a certification

that the organization will not use grant

funds to fund, in whole or in part, any

activity that promotes or encourages

opposition to the regulated hunting or

trapping of wildlife or the regulated

taking of fish.

F. Eligible Projects

A project is not eligible for a grant

unless the project will benefit:

1. At least 26 States;

2. A majority of the States in a Region

of the Service; or

3. A regional association of State fish

and wildlife departments.

G. Application Process

1. All grant application materials for

Multistate Conservation Grant Program

funding must be mailed or e-mailed to:

Mr. Robert L. Miles, International

Association of Fish and Wildlife

Agencies, 444 N. Capitol Street NW.,

Suite 544, Washington, DC 20001;

phone, (202) 624–7890; fax, (202) 624–

7890; e-mail, rmiles@sso.org. See

guidance below for electronic

submission of proposals.

2. Each year, a Notice will be

published in the Federal Register

announcing the deadline for submitting

grant application materials (see

Appendix A, Calendar of Events). The

Notice will also announce total funds

available for multistate conservation

project grants.

H. Submission Requirements

To submit a project proposal through

the mail, an original hard copy and a

floppy disk that contains the narrative

portion of the proposal (excluding

required forms) must be submitted to

Mr. Robert L. Miles, International

Association of Fish and Wildlife

Agencies, 444 N. Capitol Street NW.,

Suite 544, Washington, DC 20001;

phone, (202) 624–7890. In addition,

hard copies of the Application for

Federal Assistance (Standard Form 424

series) must also be submitted.

Electronic submission via e-mail of

the narrative portion of project

proposals is encouraged and should be

addressed to rmiles@sso.org. Applicants

who submit proposals using e-mail are

required to submit hard copies of the

Application for Federal Assistance

(Standard Form 424 series) to the above

address or fax them to (202) 624–7890,

Attention: Mr. Robert L. Miles.

The following forms and format for

proposals are required. Applicants are

strongly encouraged to limit the

narrative portion of proposals to 10

pages or less.

1. Application for Federal

Assistance—Standard Form 424 as

prescribed by Office of Management and

Budget Circular A–110, OMB Circular

A–102, and the common rule (Uniform

Administrative Requirements for Grants

and Cooperative Agreements to States

and Local Governments and Uniform

Administrative Requirements for Grants

and Cooperative Agreements With

Institutions of Higher Education,

Hospitals, and Other Non-Profit

Organizations). The SF 424 consists of

a coversheet, the SF 424A consists of a

budget sheet, and the SF 424B consists

of compliance assurances. These forms

may be obtained electronically by going

to http://fa.r9.fws.gov and clicking on

‘‘FA Toolkit in PDF Format’’, then

clicking on ‘‘Forms’’. Proposals received

without these forms will not be

accepted.

2. Title—A short descriptive name of

the proposal.

3. Objective—What will this proposal

do? State a concise statement of the

purpose of the proposal in quantified

terms where possible.

4. Need—Why address this problem?

a. State any National Conservation

Need that the proposal addresses in

whole or in part.

b. Describe the number of States

affected by the proposal or the regional

association of State fish and wildlife

departments and how they will benefit.

c. Give a brief status report on the

history of previous work conducted by

the proposer or others to address this

need.

5. Expected Results or Benefits—What

will be gained by funding this proposal?

Describe the significance of

accomplishing the proposal. Describe

provisions for making the product or

results available and usable to those

affected by the problem or need.

Benefits should be expressed in

quantified terms, i.e., angler days,

harvest per unit effort, improvements to

State administration, dollars saved, etc.

If the proposal relates to the

accomplishment of all or part of a

National Conservation Need, state how.

6. Approach—How will the proposed

project be conducted? Describe how the

work will be conducted including a

description of techniques and methods

to be used, milestones, and a schedule

of accomplishments.

7. Resumes—What are the

qualifications of key personnel? Include

resumes and names of key individuals

who will be involved in the project,

stating their particular qualifications for

undertaking the project.

8. Project Costs—Submit a completed

SF 424A, Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs. Multi-year

proposals must include an itemized

budget showing funds required for each

12-month period. With the exception of

the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting

and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, a

project can be funded for a period of not

more than three years.

I. National Conservation Needs

Determination Process

National Conservation Needs are

developed by State fish and wildlife

agencies, acting through the committees

of the IAFWA and must satisfy all the

following:

20678 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2001 / Notices

1. Identifies a problem that restricts

the ability of State and Territorial fish

and wildlife agencies to effectively meet

the needs of the public for fish and

wildlife resources;

2. Impacts the fish and wildlife

resources or fish and wildlife programs

of at least 26 States; a majority of the

States in a Region of the Service; or a

regional association of State fish and

wildlife departments;

3. Is an obvious, continuous, and

pressing resource management problem,

or a recently identified problem that is

significant and urgent;

4. Can be met by a practical and

economically feasible management

approach that will result in improved

resource management or environmental

quality;

5. Could not practically be addressed

by a single State or small group of

States; and

6. Represents a need that is not being

fully addressed by a current project.

J. National Conservation Needs for

Fiscal Year 2002

State fish and wildlife agencies, acting

through the committees of the IAFWA,

developed the following eight National

Conservation Needs for this grant

period.

1. National Enhancement of Wildlife

Health Services to Wildlife Managers

The capability to deliver wildlife

health-related services is not uniform

throughout the United States.

Information on wildlife health issues is

vital to the development and defense of

sound management programs and

policies for wildlife. Natural resources

agencies must pursue ways to have

greater health management expertise

available within the wildlife

management profession. Methods and

programs to enhance delivery of wildlife

health services to wildlife managers and

wildlife management agencies need to

be developed and facilitated.

2. Development and Implementation of

Strategies and Programs That Integrate

a Sound Marketing and

Communications Approach

Current and projected demographic

changes within the United States

population are, and will continue to

have significant impacts on program

planning, funding strategies and policy

development decisions of state fish and

wildlife agencies. These agencies need

the information, tools and training

necessary to enhance the participation

of traditional and non-traditional/underrepresented constituencies in wildlife

management and wildlife associated

recreation. In addition to these basic

tools, there is a national need to better

understand the processes of retention

and recruitment in wildlife associated

recreation. State fish and wildlife

agencies also need up-to-date

information on the various approaches

that other States are using to address

this need and their degree of success.

3. Approval of Aquaculture Drugs and

Chemicals

There is an urgent need for approval

of a wide range of drugs and chemicals

for use in aquaculture. Thirty-eight

states have joined in a cooperative

project with the U.S. Geological Service,

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the

Department of Agriculture to conduct

the studies needed to gain approval for

eight important drugs for use in disease

prevention and treatment of a wide

variety of fish species. While much

progress has been made, additional

studies are needed to generate efficacy

and other data required for the approval

of all eight drugs and completion of the

cooperative project.

4. Programs That Enhance and Improve

the Ability of State Fish and Wildlife

Agencies To Administer Their Agency

and Manage the Wildlife Resources of

Their State

Over the years, several projects have

evolved that have provided State fish

and wildlife agencies with information,

expertise, employee training, agency

and program evaluations, reference

services, etc. Examples are the National

Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife

Associated Recreation, the Management

Assistance Team, and the Library

Reference Service. These projects have

provided State fish and wildlife

agencies with information and

assistance at a reduced cost that they

would have had difficulty obtaining on

their own. A need exists for similar

types of projects that improve the ability

of State fish and wildlife agencies to

administer their agencies and carry out

their mandated responsibilities more

effectively and efficiently.

5. Wildlife Habitat Management on

Conservation Reserve Program Lands

When the Conservation Reserve

Program (CRP) was reauthorized as part

of the 1996 Farm Bill, the enhancement

of wildlife resources became a co-equal

program objective, along with reduced

soil erosion and improved water quality.

CRP uses the Environmental Benefits

Index (EBI) to determine lands accepted

into the Program. Wildlife habitat

values, including maintenance of plant

species diversity, are an important

factor in calculation of EBI scores.

However, maintenance of plant species

diversity requires frequent disturbance

of the grass stand, often using tools such

as burning and discing instead of more

traditional mowing.

Specific information is needed on

how vegetative structure and plant

species diversity and habitat values

(insect population, brood value, etc.)

change over time on CRP lands, the

relationships among habitat quality and

disturbance type, the frequency and

type of disturbance needed, and the

identification of those native legumes

and native cool-season grasses which

will achieve the desired habitat

conditions of a better simulated native

grassland system.

6. Programs That Support Hunter,

Trapper and Shooting Sports

Recruitment

The percentage of the general

population that hunts and traps has

shown a general decline over the past

decade. Reversing this decline will

strengthen state fish and wildlife

agencies by broadening public and

financial support for conservation

programs. Programs are needed at both

the state and national level that will

lead to the reversal of this trend and

result in increased hunting, trapping

and shooting sports participation, with

priority going to those programs that

increase funding support for state

agencies.

7. Integrated Bird Conservation

The challenges, significance, and

conservation opportunities associated

with ‘‘integrated bird conservation’’ are

becoming increasingly apparent and

remain a top priority of the State fish

and wildlife agencies. The need for

coordination and implementation of

such national and international efforts

including the North American

Waterfowl Management Plan, US

Shorebird Conservation Plan, Partners

in Flight Plan, North American

Waterbird Conservation Plan, as well as

interest in resident game birds is great.

State fish and wildlife agencies, and

their partners need assistance in

addressing the challenges associated

with integrated bird conservation and

accelerating implementation of such

programs. Projects are needed that will

create greater conservation efficiencies,

address the concerns and desires of the

various bird related groups, lead to more

effective conservation actions

implemented within a landscape

context, better and more directly

address the diverse array of bird

conservation priorities, address

integration of resident wildlife

conservation actions with those of

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2001 / Notices 20679

migratory birds at the State level, and

foster partnerships at all levels.

8. Multistate Planning Efforts To

Address Conservation Needs of Species

at Risk

Assistance is needed for facilitating

multi-state and more localized planning

efforts to develop conservation

agreements for species of concern that

address the species life needs and

habitat requirements prior to their

designation as candidate species or

subsequent listing under the Federal

Endangered Species Act.

K. Project Proposal Review and

Selection Process

1. Project proposals will be evaluated

for eligibility as defined in Section F

and ranked by appropriate committees

of the IAFWA at their annual September

meeting. The National Grants

Committee appointed by the President

of the IAFWA will review the

Committees’ evaluations and rankings

and prepare a recommended priority list

of project proposals for submission to

the IAFWA’s Annual Business Meeting.

2. The Directors of the State fish and

wildlife agencies will approve a priority

list of project proposals for funding at

the IAFWA’s Annual Business Meeting.

3. In preparing this list, the IAFWA

will consult with nongovernmental

organizations that represent

conservation organizations, sportsmen’s

organizations, and industries that

support or promote sport fishing,

hunting, trapping, recreational shooting,

bow hunting, or archery.

4. The IAFWA will submit the

priority list of projects to the Services’

Assistant Director for Migratory Birds

and State Programs by October 1, 2001.

5. The Service will publish the

priority list in the Federal Register.

6. The Service Director will make the

final decision on projects to be awarded

grants. The Director will award grants

only to projects included in the priority

list submitted by the IAFWA.

L. Grant Awards and Funding

1. The Service will prepare and sign

the formal grant agreements. The formal

grant agreements will be forwarded to

the grantees for signature and must be

signed by a Service representative and

an authorized grantee official before

they become valid agreements. This

process may require up to 60 days to

complete. The Service is not responsible

for costs incurred prior to the effective

date of a signed agreement; therefore,

the starting date for all projects should

be planned accordingly.

2. The entire amount of funds

required for a project must be obligated

in the fiscal year the grant is approved

(as per guidance in 50 CFR part 80.8).

3. Nonprofit, commercial and

institutions of higher education grantees

must maintain a financial management

system in accordance with the Office of

Management and Budget Circular A–110

and 43 CFR part 12, subpart F. State and

local governments must maintain a

financial management system in

accordance with OMB Circular A–102

and 43 CFR part 12, subpart C.

M. Project Administration

Proposals awarded funding will be

assigned to a Project Officer. Project

Officers provide assistance that

includes:

1. Serving as the Service’s point of

contact after the award agreement is

signed;

2. Receiving and approving invoices;

and

3. Monitoring project performance

and assuring that the award recipient

adheres to the award agreement.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS—APPENDIX A

Target Date Event

April 16 ............. Service publishes FEDERAL REGISTER Notice announcing availability of Multistate Conservation Grant Program funds and National Conservation Needs for grant applications.

June 15 ............. Grant application materials must be received by the IAFWA.

September ........ The Directors of the State fish and wildlife agencies will approve a priority list of project proposals for funding at the IAFWA’s

Annual Business Meeting.

October 1 .......... The IAFWA submits a priority list of projects to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ Assistant Director for Migratory Birds and

State Programs.

November 15 .... Service publishes FEDERAL REGISTER Notice of priority list of projects submitted by the IAFWA.

January 30 ........ Service awards grants.

Dated: April 7, 2001.

Marshall P. Jones, Jr.,

Acting Director.

[FR Doc. 01–10145 Filed 4–23–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Publishing the Priority List, and

Projects Approved, With Qualifiers,

Under the Multistate Conservation

Grant Program Submitted to the

Secretary by the International

Association of Fish and Wildlife

Agencies

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice—Multistate Conservation

Grant Program.

SUMMARY: The Service is publishing the

priority lists for the Multistate

Conservation Grant Program submitted

to the Secretary of the Interior by the

International Association of Fish and

Wildlife Agencies. This notice is

required by the Wildlife and Sport Fish

Restoration Programs Improvement Act

of 2000. Grants will be made from this

list.

DATES: This notice is effective April 24,

2001.

ADDRESSES: Copies of proposals may be

viewed at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service offices at 4401 North Fairfax

Drive, Suite 140, Arlington, Virginia

22203 daily until May 24, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kris

E. LaMontagne, Chief, Division of

Federal Aid, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite

140, Arlington, Virginia 22203, (703)

358–2156.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration

Programs Improvement Act of 2000

(Pub. L. 106–408) established a MultiState Conservation Grant Program

within the Federal Aid in Wildlife

Restoration and Federal Aid in Sport

Fish Restoration Acts, commonly

known as the Pittman-Robertson and

Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux Acts,

respectively. The program authorizes

grants of up to $3 million annually from

funds available under each Act, for a

total of up to $6 million annually. The

grants are to be made from a list of