Endangered Species - Candidate Conservation Action Funds (15.660)

Program

15.660 Endangered Species - Candidate Conservation Action Funds

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of the Interior
Office: Fish and Wildlife Service

Authorization

Endangered Species Act of 1973, Public Law 93-205, 87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C 1531 et. seq., as amended by Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1978, Public Law 95-632, 92 Stat. 3751, 16 U.S.C 1531, as amended by Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1982, Public Law 97-304, 96 Stat. 1411, 16 U.S.C 1531.

Program Number

15.660

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The objective is to secure endangered, threatened, candidate and other at-risk species information or undertake restoration actions that will help avert federal listing of species, lead to the recovery species, or prevent extinction. The purpose is to provide a means by which the ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species depend may be conserved, to provide a program for the conservation of these species, and to take appropriate steps to achieve the purposes of treaties and conventions set forth in the law.

Types of Assistance

Cooperative Agreements

Uses and Use Restrictions

The assistance can be used for Candidate Conservation. Funding maybe used for actions related to: (1) the development of scientific information that is useful in supporting candidate assessments, conservation actions and candidate conservation agreements; (2) reduce threats to a candidate and other high priority species, such as propagation of imperiled freshwater mussels; or (3) conservation of candidate species, such as biological field work to conduct species surveys. These are discretionary funds that are used for project purposes to help ensure the use of the best available scientific information in making management decisions.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

None

Beneficiary Eligibility

None

Credentials/Documentation

Applications should have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the biology of the involved candidate species, including preferably having worked with the species in the field. If funding is awarded, applicants that do not currently hold a valid permit may need to apply for and obtain a permit http://www.fws.gov/endangered/permits/index.html before beginning the proposed activity. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Pre-application coordination with the appropriate Regional Coordinator is needed. Potential applicants should contact the the appropriate Regional Coordinator to discuss the proposed project, and the Regional Coordinator will provide them with the name and contact information for the Ecological Service's Field Office for further coordination. A list of Regional Candidate Conservation Coordinators is available at the following website address http://www.fws.gov/endangered/candidates/index.html. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Potential applicants must conduct pre-application coordination with the appropriate Regional Coordinator contact person to discuss the proposed project. The Regional Coordinator will then refer the potential applicant to the appropriate Ecological Services' Field Office. Applicants will then coordinate with the appropriate Field Office who will assess if the project is something that will help meet Service priority needs. If so, potential applicants will submit a formal application to the Field Office. Project proposals should meet specific criteria and must be accompanied by a Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance.

Award Procedure

Proposals will complete at a Regional level for funding. After review of the proposals by Regional Service Coordinators, recommendations for funding will be made subject to final approval of the Assistant Regional Director - Ecological Services.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 120 to 180 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

None, however project applicants are not prohibited from submitting applications for consideration for subsequent funding for multi-year projects though there is no governmental guarantee that multiple years of the project will be funded.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The funding is for projects that can be completed within one year of the date of award. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: not available.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. A report is required for each award annually within 90 days after the anniversary date and at the end of the award. An interim financial status report is due annually within 90 days of the anniversary date and a final report is due at the end of the award. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

The recipient is required to maintain all records for a period of three (3) years after the project is completed.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: The Candidate Conservation program is implemented through a proactive and collaborative approach with states and territories, tribes, federal agencies, and the private sector to keep species from declining to the point that they warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act. Through this program the Service work to: (1) identify species that are on the brink of becoming listed or that face threats that make listing a possibility; (2) provide information, planning assistance, and resources to encourage partnerships for conservation measures for these species; and (3) prioritize non-listed species so those most needing protection or additional study are addressed first. Some specific accomplishments in FY08 include the following: Funding for habitat restoration projects on federal lands; the development of important propagation and rearing of captive specimens; the use of remote sensing technologies and geographic information systems to identify and map important habitat areas. In FY 2007, five Candidate Conservation Agreements with landowners were completed, benefiting conservation listed species. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1611-0-1-302.

Obligations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $1,425,303; FY 09 est $1,200,000; FY 10 est $1,300,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

FY 08 ($1,000 smallest to $140,000 largest award). Average $20,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Policy and guidelines for the Endangered Species Program are available at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/policy/index.html.

General permit regulations for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can be found at 50 CFR 13. Regulations relevant to candidate species can be found at 50 CFR 424.02, 50 CFR 424.13, 50 CFR 424.15, 50 CFR 17.22(d), 50 CFR 17.32(d). A draft of the Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances is available by contacting the Chief, Branch of Candidate Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 420, Arlington, VA 22203; Telephone (703)358-2105; Fax (703)358-1735. The CCAA policy and regulations were adopted in 1999 under section 10(a)(1)(A). Copies of the permit application forms are available on our web page at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/permits/index.html.

Related Programs

15.615 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund; 15.631 Partners for Fish and Wildlife

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices.

Headquarters Office

Assistant Director 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20240 Phone: 202 208 3100

Web Site Address

No Data Available

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Status update and conservation initiative for whorled sunflower; develop conservation agreements to preclude the need to list the species ($10K). Conservation actions to implement a Candidate Conservation Assurances Agreement for the yellowcheek darter, including propagation, partner led monitoring; creating a GIS layer and public outreach ($30K). Development of single nucleotide polymorphism assay (SNPs) techniques to monitor the New England Cottontail. Development of important propagation and rearing of captive specimens. Use of remote sensing technologies and geographic information systems to identify and map important habitat areas. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Coordination with the Regional Coordinator is required for all potential projects to discuss the proposed project. The Regional Coordinator will refer the potential applicant to the appropriate Ecological Services' Field Office. If the proposed project meets Service priority needs, an application will be submitted to the appropriate Ecological Services Field Office. General Criteria that apply to all potential projects include: Projects should show a clear conservation benefit that will help prevent extinction of a species, lead to de-listing of a species, or prevent listing of a candidate species; All projects will be considered independently on a year-to-year basis. Multi-year projects are not prohibited, but applicants will need to resubmit and compete annually for financial assistance. There is no guarantee that if the project is funded on year that subsequent funding will be available; projects that involve multiple partnerships are encouraged; projects that involve matching funding are strongly encouraged; and potential applicants will need to provide credentials demonstrating they have the necessary biological and scientific education and experience to be able to complete the project satisfactorily. In addition to the above-listed general criteria, the following specific criteria will be considered for selecting projects: Implement conservation actions so that a species can be removed from candidate status (i.e., preclude the need to list the species).