Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 391 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES › Chapter 391-5 - HISTORIC PRESERVATION › Subject 391-5-13 - STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS PROGRAMS › Rule 391-5-13-.02 - Land and Water Conservation Fund (L&WCF)

Current through
				Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) Purpose. The purpose of the Land and
				Water Conservation Fund (L&WCF) is to provide no more than fifty percent
				matching grant assistance to eligible applicants for acquisition of real
				property and/or development of recreation facilities for general purpose public
				outdoor recreation. Lands and facilities must be for
outdoor
recreation or directly support outdoor recreation; must be open to the general
				public without discrimination during reasonable times and hours; must be
				maintained and operated for public outdoor recreation in perpetuity.
Specific criteria which address recreation issues as
				  identified in the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) are
				  used to evaluate the grant applications. Grants are awarded to applicants with
				  proposed projects which will increase the local supply of public outdoor
				  recreation lands and/or facilities either through the purchase of real
				  property, facility development or rehabilitation of existing facilities.
(2) Eligible Applicants. All
				legally constituted entities (cities, counties, recreation commissions, or
				recreation authorities with legislative sanction) may apply for grant funds
				under this program. Eligible applicants must apply for grants under this
				program in a manner and format prescribed by the Department. Applications and
				related instructions for applying may be received by writing to the Department
				at the following address:
Department of Natural Resources
Grants Administration Unit
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 1352
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
(3) Application Procedures. The typical
				calendar of a biennial funding cycle follows:
September Public announcement of the Application
				  Process.
October Applications due (specific deadline assigned each
				  year in the public announcement).
Nov- Jan Staff reviews, evaluates, and ranks
				  applications.
February Funding recommendations are presented to the Board
				  of Natural Resources.
June Applications are submitted to National Park Service for
				  approval.
October Staff completes paperwork for formal commitment of
				  funds.
Eligible applicants shall make application to the Department
				  of Natural Resources by the specified deadline in the manner and format
				  outlined in the program application. Each application package shall include
				  responses to program criteria for which the applicant seeks points, including
				  appropriate justification and supporting documents. All grants are subject to
				  applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations (including but not
				  limited to environmental compliance specified in NEPA and GEPA and
				  non-discrimination laws) and each application must include appropriate
				  compliance documentation. Applications must be received by the specified
				  deadline. Contact the Department of Natural Resources at the above address for
				  a copy of the criteria and formal grant application procedures. The above
				  schedule may be altered, but the same basic process will be followed.
(4) Program Criteria. Each
				applicant must respond to Minimum Requirements and Evaluation Criteria as
				summarized below:
Minimum Requirements
These are requirements that an applicant must meet in order
				  to be considered for a L&WCF grant. There are no points attached to these
				  requirements. Only one of two situations can occur; (1) Yes-the applicant meets
				  all minimum requirements and is therefore eligible for consideration based on
				  how a proposed project scores under the Evaluation Criteria; (2) No- the
				  applicant does not meet the minimum requirements and is therefore ineligible
				  for consideration of funding. The following minimum requirements apply to all
				  applicants for assistance:
Title VI Compliance
Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
				  and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Legally constituted entity as sponsor
Satisfactory park operations and maintenance track
				  record
Demonstrated capability for administering grants
Submit a resolution regarding the availability of a 50%
				  match
Non-exclusionary user fees
Compliance with all state and federal regulations, rules and
				  legislation
Significant citizen participation in the planning
				  process
Evaluation Criteria
Below are sections within the Evaluation Criteria. Each
				  section has one or more criteria to which a variable number of points are
				  attached. These criteria are designed to measure the overall concept of the
				  proposed project. Because not all criteria are equally important, the criteria
				  are weighted.
Administrative Criteria
Project Specific
Planning Efforts
Rehabilitation Projects
Development Projects
Acquisition Projects
Grant Match & Partnerships
The above mentioned criteria sections and requirements can be
				  found in their entirety in the Land and Water Conservation Fund Pre-application
				  packet. This package is available from the Department of Natural Resources at
				  the address listed in "(2) Eligible Applicants."
(5) Review of Grant Applications.
				Applications received from eligible applicants are reviewed by the grants staff
				to determine both program eligibility and a ranking score. Specific criteria,
				as outlined above, are used to evaluate the grant applications. Each
				application is evaluated according to the criteria and assigned a number score.
				Grants are recommended for funding on the basis of the score, and normally only
				one grant per funding cycle per applicant. A grant ceiling is usually set at
				the beginning of the application cycle based on the level of appropriation. All
				funds are allocated on a biennial basis.
(6) Awarding of Grant Funds. Upon completion
				of the review and ranking of all applications by staff, funding recommendations
				are presented to the Board of Natural Resources for notification and review.
				Following notification to and review by the Board, the grants staff completes
				paperwork including the contracting process with the grant recipients. The
				grant period is normally not more that two years, and funds will flow to the
				grant recipient on a reimbursable basis as the work progresses. A grant
				recipient's land and/or facilities are subject to periodic inspections by
				grants staff for appropriate operation and maintenance and compliance with
				applicable state and federal laws.
O.C.G.A. §§
											12-3-32,
				  12-3-5; Land and Water
				  Conservation Fund Act of 1965, P.L. 88-578, as codified at
				  54 USC §
												200305; Catalog of Federal Domestic
				  Assistance Number: 15.916; 36 CFR Part 59
				  .