Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (15.615)
Program
15.615 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund
Federal Agency
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Authorization
Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., as amended; Department of the Interior Appropriations, P.L.107-63.
Program Number
15.615
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To provide Federal financial assistance to any State or Territory (hereafter, "States"), through its appropriate State or territorial agency, to assist in the development of programs for the conservation of endangered and threatened species.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
The assistance provided to the State fish and wildlife agency can include animal, plant, and habitat surveys; research; planning; monitoring; habitat protection, restoration, management, and acquisition; and public education. Assistance is restricted to those State agencies with which the Fish and Wildlife Service has a current cooperative agreement for the species involved.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Participation limited to State agencies that have a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior.
Beneficiary Eligibility
All States and Territories that have entered into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior.
Credentials/Documentation
A current cooperative agreement(s) between the Secretary of the Interior and the State Conservation agency(ies) concerning endangered and threatened species is necessary. Separate agreements for animals and plants are normally made with each State's responsible agency.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
The standard application forms furnished by the Federal agency and required by 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments," must be used for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E. O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs". An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedure
A standard application for Federal Assistance is submitted. The project description section of the application should address the evaluation factors identified in the annual request for proposals.
Award Procedure
Final selection is made by the Secretary of the Interior, based on recommendations by the Director or Regional Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Funds are obligated by signature on a project agreement.
Deadlines
Variable. Contact the regional office for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Decisions can be appealed to the Fish and Wildlife Service, Chief, Endangered Species Division of Consultation. Final determination rests with the Secretary of the Interior.
Renewals
Renewals can be made through submission and approval of a project agreement.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
States may receive up to 75 percent of the program costs. When two or more States have a common interest in one or more endangered or threatened species and enter into a joint agreement, the Federal share may be 90 percent.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Any amount obligated to any State for any fiscal year remaining unused at end of the year is available to that State until the close of the succeeding fiscal year. Any amount obligated to any State that remains unused at the end of the succeeding fiscal year is available to the Service as reverted funds to conduct other section 6 programs.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
A performance report is required for each project segment within 90 days following the close of the segment.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit organizations," non-federal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal Awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-federal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Records must be maintained for 3 years following the submission of request for final reimbursement.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal year 2002 funding was used to support four grant programs: Conservation Grants, Recovery Land Acquisition, Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance, and Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants. Through the traditional Conservation Grants program, $7,520,000 was allocated regionally based on the number of species covered under cooperative agreements within each region. The Recovery Land Acquisition Grant program provided $17,759,000 in funding to 33 proposals to provide project funding in 21 states and one territory. The Habitat Conservation Planning (HCP) Land Acquisition Grant funding ($61,306,000) was used to fund 15 individual projects out of 25 proposals across 8 states. The Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Grant program ($6,650,000) awarded 24 out of 42 proposals to provide project funding in 14 states and one territory.
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-5143-0-2-303.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $104,694,000; FY 03 est $96,235,000; and FY 04 est $89,900,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$1,000 to $14,362,500.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Endangered Species Act, 50 CFR 81, Federal Aid Manual.
Related Programs
15.605, Sport Fish Restoration; 15.611, Wildlife Restoration; 15.618, Administrative Grants for Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration; 15.633, Landowner Incentive; 15.632, Conservation Grants Private Stewardship for Imperiled Species.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Catalog Appendix IV for addresses.
Headquarters Office
Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW (MS-420 ARLSQ), Washington, DC 20240. Contact: Chief, Endangered Species: Division of Consultation, HCPs, Recovery and State Grants. Telephone: (703) 358-2171. Use the same number for FTS.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
A variety of projects were funded through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund in FY 2002, including Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance grants to develop Habitat Conservation Plans across the country in areas ranging from the Island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to the shores of Alabama, from the mountains of West Virginia to the forests of the Pacific Northwest. These HCPs will benefit a wide range of plants and animals, including the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl in Arizona, California jewelflower and Kern mallow in California, and the Delmarva fox squirrel in Delaware. Most of the HCPs will address multiple species, many of them on a city, county or large watershed basis. Recovery Land Acquisition grants awarded in fiscal year 2002 will be used to acquire and protect important prairie, coastal, mountainous, desert, cave, and riparian habitat, land that represents critical portions of species' last remaining habitat. Some of these acquisitions support many endangered species, as well as important habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. For example, acquisition of property in Star County, Texas benefits the largest of only 2 known populations of the Texas star cactus in the United States. In California, acquisition of a 25-acre site will protect one of only eleven breeding ponds for the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander and one of the largest of only seven known populations of the robust spineflower. HCP Land acquisitions in fiscal year 2002 will be used to help acquire vital habitat for threatened and endangered species ranging from red- cockaded woodpeckers in Georgiaa to imperiled songbirds in Texas. The lands acquired under the HCP Land Acquisition program are purchased only from willing sellers, and are intended to complement but do not replace the conservation responsibilities contained in a HCP.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Proposals for grant funding must be submitted by the State fish and wildlife agency. The State must have an approved cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior which provides for sharing responsibilities for endangered species, prior to receiving Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (section 6 of the Endangered Species Act) funds. Individual project proposals must compete with other State submissions for funding.
