Habitat Conservation (11.463)
Program
11.463 Habitat Conservation
Federal Agency
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Authorization
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1956, 16 U.S.C. 661; 16 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 3951 et seq.; Public Law 100-220, Title II, Section 2204, 33 U.S.C. 1901 et. seq.; Department of Commerce Appropriation Act of 1999; and Coral Reef Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.
Program Number
11.463
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To provide grants and cooperative agreements for biological, economic, sociological, public policy, and other research, administration, and public education projects on the coastal environment to benefit U.S. fisheries, conserve protected resources, and add to the economic and social well being of the Nation. Projects are funded to carry out public policy pertaining to protection and restoration of the Nation's wetlands and other coastal habitats, pursuant to the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Endangered Species Act, Estuary Restoration Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987, Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Research Act (CWPPRA) and other legislation. Research and management includes determining the effects of habitat modifications and contaminants on populations of living marine resources, restoring depleted stocks that have been adversely impacted by habitat modifications, determining if artificial or restored habitat fulfills essential habitat needs of living marine resources, and quantifying contaminants and debris that pose a hazard to populations of these animals.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds can be used by recipients to support a wide variety of research, habitat restoration, construction, management, and public education activities for marine and estuarine habitats, especially for species currently under, or proposed for, future Federal or Interjurisdictional management.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants for assistance include State and local governments, including their universities and colleges; U.S. territorial agencies; federally and State-recognized Indian Tribal governments; private universities and colleges; private profit and nonprofit research and conservation organizations, and/or individuals.
Beneficiary Eligibility
This program benefits Federal, State, and interstate marine resource conservation and management agencies; U.S. and foreign commercial and recreational fishing industries; conservation organizations, academic institutions; international and Indian Tribal treaties; private and public research groups; consumers; and the general public.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants are required to satisfy all DOC/NOAA standards and regulations, including routine and special terms and conditions, for financial assistance programs application and conduct.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
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
Submission of an application on Standard Form 424 (Rev 4-88), including all required certifications, to the appropriate National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Regional Director, Science and Research Director, or Office Director. This program is subject to the provisions of 15 CFR 24 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments), and 15 CFR Part 14 (Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Nonprofit Organizations). NOAA reserves the right to withhold the awarding of a grant or cooperative agreement to any individual or organization delinquent on a debt to the Federal government until payment is made or satisfactory arrangements are made with the agency to whom the debt is owed.
Award Procedure
Proposals are initially evaluated by the appropriate NMFS Office/Region/Science Center, or their component laboratories, and are subject to review for technical merit, soundness of design, competency of the applicant to perform the proposed work, potential contribution of the project to national or regional goals, and appropriateness and reasonableness of proposed costs. Projects approved for funding will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division and the Department of Commerce's Office of Federal Assistance for review and approval.
Deadlines
Project applications must be received by the receiving NMFS office at least 90 days before the requested start date of the project.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Grants and cooperative agreements are approved on an annual basis, but may be continued beyond the first segment, subject to approved time frame and scope of work, satisfactory progress, and availability of funds. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the sole discretion of the Department.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Project costs are funded at up to 100 percent. Grantee matching contributions are not required, but are encouraged. Coastal Wetland Planning, Protection and Restoration Act requires a 15 percent match by the State of Louisiana at this time. Under the Community-based Restoration Program guidelines, projects are encouraged to demonstrate a minimum nonfederal match of 50 percent of the total cost needed to complete the proposed project.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Awards are normally for a 12 month period but in some instances, award periods may extend beyond 12 months, or may be completed in less than 12 months. Award funds must be spent in the indicated budget period and is expended in accordance with DOC/NOAA finance and reporting procedures. Funds are released in advance or by reimbursement, as agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document required for each grant.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Reports are due in accordance with the terms and conditions of the award. The Department's Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions may require that financial and performance reports be submitted semi-annually or on some other agreed upon schedule.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), recipients that are States, Local Governments, Nonprofit Organizations (to include Hospitals), and Institutions of Higher Learning shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507). Commercial organizations shall be subject to the audit requirements as stipulated in the award document.
Records
Generally, a recipient is required to retain records relating to a particular grant for three (3) years from the date of submission of the final financial report. In cases where litigation, claim or an audit is initiated prior to expiration of the three-year period, records must be retained until the action and resolution of any issues associated with it are complete or until the end of the three-year retention period; whichever is latest.
Program Accomplishments
NOAA Fisheries Headquarters - In fiscal year 2002, funding through cooperative agreements for wetland restoration projects in Louisiana under the CWPPRA program resulted in funding of the Barataria Barrier Island, Pass Chaland to Grand Bayou Pass Barrier Shoreline Restoration and Little Lake Shoreline Protection/Dedicated Dredging near Round Lake projects. NOS - Restoration research and restoration activities.
Financial Information
Account Identification
13-1450-0-1-306.
Obligations
(Grants and Cooperative Agreements) FY 02 $31,880,197; FY 03 est $24,265,279; FY 04 est $24,265,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$14,400 to $8,057,000. Average: $764,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21 for institutions of higher education, with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments, and with OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations. For grants management priniciples, see 15 CFR 24 (State and local governments) and 15 CFR 14 for other recipients.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Appendix IV.
Headquarters Office
CWPPRA: Dr. Erik Zobrist; Community-based Restoration Program (CRP): Ms. Robin Bruckner, Program Manager. Office of Habitat Conservation, FHC3, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Telephone: (301) 713-0174. Fax: (301) 713-0184. Email: Erik.Zobrist@noaa.gov; Robin.Bruckner@noaa.gov.
Web Site Address
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration
Examples of Funded Projects
NOAA Fisheries Headquarters: Wetland restoration projects in CWPPRA program are utilized for protecting and restoring eroding coastal marshes. The Community-based Restoration Program (CRP) provides funding to implement on-the-ground habitat restoration projects to benefit marine, estaurine and reparian habitats, including but not limited to salt marshes, seagrass beds, coral reefs, mangrove forests, and freshwater habitat important to anadromous fisheries, predominantly in coastal areas around the United States. The Office of Habitat Conservation also provides funding for coral reef conservation activities. NOS - Pontchartrain Restoration Program, CREST, Marine Debris Removal, and Edisto Beach Marsh Restoration.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Proposals are selected from several sources: Unsolicited proposals; special solicitations in the Federal Register or Commerce Business Daily; or Congressionally mandated projects. Regardless of source, proposals must undergo rigorous technical review and comply with all OMB, DOC, and NOAA grants policies and procedures. Any financial assistance announcements must be made in the Federal Register; announcements in the Commerce Business Daily only is not sufficient.
