Forestry on Indian Lands (15.035)

Program

15.035 Forestry on Indian Lands

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of the Interior
Office: Bureau of Indian Affairs

Authorization

Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638, as amended, 25 U.S.C. 450; Snyder Act of 1921, Public Law 67-85, 42 Stat. 208, 25 U.S.C. 13; Indian Forest Resources Management Act of 1990, 36 Stat. 857, 25 U.S.C. 406 and 407; Act of June 25, 1910, Public Law 61-313; 62 Stat. 787 and 788, 18 U.S.C. 1853, 1855, and 1856; Rumsey Indian Rancheria Act, Sections 304-320, 104 Stat. 4531.

Program Number

15.035

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To maintain, protect, enhance, and develop Indian forest resources through the execution of forest management activities.

Types of Assistance

ADVISORY SERVICES AND COUNSELING; DIRECT PAYMENTS FOR A SPECIFIED USE; PROVISION OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds are used to support activities of reforestation and commercial forest stand improvement; timber sales management; forest inventories and plans; forest program management and administration; and forest protection activities including Wild land Fire Management. Forest Inventory, Management Planning and Forest Development funds are awarded competitively.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and Native American Organizations authorized by Indian tribal governments.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments and their members and Native American Organizations.

Credentials/Documentation

Initial application for financial assistance (Public Law 93-638) must be accompanied by a resolution of the governing body of the Indian tribe. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Informal preapplication conference is recommended. Technical assistance in preparing the application is available upon request. 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. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Initial applications for financial assistance must contain the information specified in 25 CFR, Part 900, Subpart C, "Contract Proposal Contents." Completed applications should be submitted to the local BIA agency office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. Requests for technical services can be made through the local BIA agency office.

Award Procedure

In most cases, the award can be approved at the agency level. In some instances, the application will be forwarded to the Regional Director for approval. The dollar value of Forestry awards depends upon the amount that has been prioritized by the individual tribe through tribal participation in the BIA's budget formulation process.

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Applications will be processed within 90 days.

Appeals

An unsuccessful applicant may request an informal conference with the deciding official, or may appeal the denial of the application to the Interior Board of Indian Appeals, or may bring suit in U.S. District Court. Full appeal procedures are found in 25 CFR, Part 900.

Renewals

Forestry. Awards may be renewed indefinitely upon satisfactory performance by the contractor/grantee. A notice of intent to renew should be submitted at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the current award. Forestry Management Inventories, Planning and Forest Development funds are awarded for projects on a year-by-year basis and are not intended to provide perennial support for tribal programs.

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

Awards are made on an annual basis and the funds remain available until expended by the contractor/grantee. Payments may be made in advance or by way of reimbursement. The timing of payments will be negotiated with the grantee. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Information not available.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

The timing and nature of program accomplishment data will be negotiated with the contractor/grantee. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Federal Financial Report, SF 425 is required. 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

Financial records must be retained for 3 years from the date of submission of the single audit report. Procurement records must be retained for 3 years from the date of final payment. Property records must be retained for 3 years from the date of disposition, replacement, or transfer. Records pertaining to any litigation, audit exceptions, or claims must be retained until the dispute has been resolved.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In fiscal year 2008, the program supported reforestation activities on about 13,500 acres and pre-commercial thinning on 27,400 acres. Completed hazardous fuel reduction treatments on 239,000 acres of Indian land. Timber sales managed through the program created about 9,000 person years of employment and generated revenues of approximately $50 million. To date, 137 management plans have been developed to direct forestry activities on over 18 million acres of Indian forest lands. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-2100-0-1-302.

Obligations

(Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 08 $14,500,000; FY 09 est $14,000,000; FY 10 est $14,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range is $10,000 to $1,000,000: Average $100,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

25 CFR Part 900; 25 CFR 163 -- General Forestry Regulations.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Applications may be filed with the local Bureau of Indian Affairs' agency office as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office

Bill Downes Office of Trust Services, Division of Forestry and Wildland Fire Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street N.W., MS-4513 MIB, , Washington, District of Columbia 20240 Email: bill_downes@bia.gov Phone: (202) 208-4620

Web Site Address

http://www.doi.gov/bia/otrhome.htm#Forests; http://www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Funds are used for planting trees; greenhouse operations; weeding and fertilization; development or revision of reservation specific long-term sustained yield forest management plans; and development of environmental compliance documents, sales documents, and timber sale contracts. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Forestry: All applicants meeting the criteria in 25 CFR Part 900 will be funded. Forestry Management and Development: Criteria include need, benefit/cost analysis, capability of the applicant to successfully conduct the project, and budget and its effective use. Awards are based on the commercial timber base, the annual forest development inventory, and on periodic priority needs as determined by Regional Offices.