Fire Management Assistance Grant (97.046)
Program
97.046 Fire Management Assistance Grant
Federal Agency
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Authorization
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5204c; Executive Order 12148; Reorganization Plan No. 3, 1978. On October 30, 2001, the Fire Management Assistance Grant Program replaced the Fire Suppression Assistance Program. The Fire Management Assistance Grant Program, authorized by the Stafford Act and amended by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, provides for the mitigation, management and control of fires that threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.
Program Number
97.046
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To provide grants to States, Indian tribal governments and local governments for the mitigation, management and control of any fire burning on publicly (nonfederal) or privately owned forest or grassland that threatens such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants; Provision of Specialized Services.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Fire Management Assistance Grants are made in the form of cost-sharing grants for the mitigation, management, and control of any fire on publicly (nonfederal) or privately owned forestland or grassland that threatens such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
State governments and Indian tribal governments are eligible for fire management assistance grants. The State or Indian tribal government may be the Grantee. The Grantee is the government to which a grant is awarded, and is accountable for the use of funds provided.
Beneficiary Eligibility
The State Government and/or Indian tribal government, acting as the Grantee, is the government to which the grant is awarded and which is accountable for the use of the funds provided. Other State entities, Indian tribal governments and local governments are eligible to apply for subgrants.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with FEMA Regulations, 44 CFR Part 204. Federal funds will be awarded to subgrantees in accordance with State law and procedure and in compliance with 44 CFR Part 13 and 204. Grant awards will be determined in accordance with OMB Circulars No. A-87 and No. A-102 for State and local governments.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
A FEMA-State Agreement and/or Indian tribal Agreement for the Fire Management Assistance Grant Program (the agreement)is signed by the Governor/Indian tribal government and the Regional Director at the beginning of the calendar year or after a State's first fire management assistance grant declaration in a calendar year. The agreement is amended for subsequent approvals of assistance for the remainder of the year. This agreement outlines the level of fire management assistance to be provided for all fires declared during the calendar year, and contains the necessary terms and conditions for requesting and receiving assistance. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
The Governor, Governor's Authorized Representative, or Indian tribal government may request a fire management assistance declaration through the FEMA Regional Director. To expedite the request, the State or Indian tribal government may submit a telephone request to the Regional Director, promptly followed by a confirming message or letter. The Assistant Director of the Readiness, Response and Recovery Directorate, shall render a decision on the State's request and notify the Regional Director of this decision. This decision may be relayed by telephone, to be followed by a written determination.
Award Procedure
None.
Deadlines
Requests for fire management assistance declarations must be submitted while a fire is burning uncontrolled and threatens such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
States have the recourse to two types of appeals under the Fire Management Assistance Grant Program. Under the first type of appeal, a Governor, Governor's Authorized Representative, or Indian tribal government may appeal a denial of its request for a fire management assistance declaration. The State/Indian tribal government should submit this one-time request for reconsideration in writing, with additional information, to the Assistant Director of the Readiness, Response & Recovery Directorate through the Regional Director. The appeal must be submitted within 30 days of the date of the letter denying the State's/Indian tribal government's request. The Assistant Director will render the final determination on this type of appeal within 90 days of receipt of the appeal or receipt of the additional information requested. The Assistant Director may extend the 30-day period provided that the Governor, the Governor's Authorized Representative, or Indian tribal government submits a written request for a time extension within the 30-day period. The decision of the Assistant Director is the final decision for the Agency. Under the second type of appeal, an applicant or subgrantee may appeal any determination FEMA makes under an approved fire management assistance declaration through a two level appeal process. Appellants must file appeals within 60 days after receipt of a notice of the action that is being appealed. The Grantee will review and forward appeals from an applicant or subgrantee, with a written recommendation, to the Regional Director within 60 days of receipt. The Regional Director will render a determination on first appeals for fire management assistance grant- related decisions within 90 days following receipt of the appeal or requested additional information. In the event the Regional Director denies the appeal, the applicant may submit a second-level appeal to the Assistant Director of the Readiness, Response and Recovery Directorate. Within 90 days following receipt of a second appeal, the Assistant Director, will notify the grantee in writing of the disposition of the appeal or of the need for additional information. If the decision is to grant the appeal, the Regional Director will take appropriate implementing action. The decision of the Assistant Director at the second appeal level shall be the final administrative decision for FEMA.
Renewals
Not applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Fire Management Assistance Grants may be available to States on a 75 percent Federal/25 percent nonfederal cost-sharing basis when we determine that the State's application demonstrates either of the following: total eligible costs for the declared fire meet or exceed the individual fire cost threshold or total costs of all declared and non-declared fires in a given calendar year meet the cumulative fire cost threshold. The individual fire cost threshold for a State is the greater of $100,000 or five percent x $1.07 x state population. The cumulative fire cost threshold for a State is the greater of $500,000 or three times the five percent x $1.07 x State population. Both formulas are adjusted annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published annually by the Department of Labor.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The time interval for which a declared fire occurs is the incident period. Generally costs must be incurred during the incident period to be considered eligible. Pre-positioning of resources may be approved for Federal funding up to a maximum of 21 days before a declared fire. Mobilization and demobilization also occur outside the incident period and are eligible for Federal funding. Temporary repair work must be completed within 30 days of the close of the incident period for the declared fire.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Within 90 days of the Performance Period expiration date, the State must submit a Financial Status Report (FEMA Form 20-10) which reports all costs incurred within the incident period and all administrative costs incurred within the performance period. The performance period, defined on the SF-424, may be 9 months from the close of the incident period and may be extended for an additional 3 months by the Regional Director. During the performance period the Grantee will submit the subgrants, which document eligible costs; FEMA will review the eligibility of costs, and process, obligate, and close- out the grant.
Audits
Audits will be performed for both the Grantee and the subgrantees under 44 CFR 13.26. FEMA may elect to conduct a program specific Federal audit on the Fire Management Assistance Grant or subgrant.
Records
Expenditure records and related documents must be retained for 3 years from the date the Grantee submits its final financial status report.
Program Accomplishments
During the first and second quarters in fiscal year 2001, 15 fire management assistance grants were authorized.
Financial Information
Account Identification
70-0702-0-1-453.
Obligations
(Grants and Services) FY 02 $70,580.916; FY 03 est $45,000,000; and FY 04 est not available.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
None.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Federal Disaster Assistance, Fire Management Assistance Grant Program Regulations, 44 CFR Part 204.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of addresses for FEMA's Regional Offices.
Headquarters Office
Department of Homeland Security 245 Murray Drive, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20528 Tel. (202) 282-8000.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
