Tribal Landowner Incentive Program (15.638)

 

Program

15.638 Tribal Landowner Incentive Program

 

Federal Agency

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

 

Authorization

Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004, Title I, Public Law 108-108; Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965,16 U.S.C. 4601-4 through 11.

 

Program Number

15.638

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

To establish or supplement existing programs that provide technical or financial assistance including habitat protection and restoration, to Federally recognized Indian tribes for the protection and management of habitat to benefit Federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species.

 

Types of Assistance

Project Grants.

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

These discretionary grants are available for conservation efforts to be carried out on private lands, to provide technical or financial assistance to private landowners for the purpose of benefiting Federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species on private lands. Assistance must be to protect, restore, or manage habitat on private lands.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Participation is limited to Federally recognized Indian tribal governments. For the purposes of inclusion under TLIP, tribal trust lands are treated similarly to lands under private ownership.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Anyone/General Public (While direct participation is limited to Federally Recognized Indian Tribal governments, the general public will ultimately benefit from these wildlife conservation measures.)

Credentials/Documentation

Only Federally recognized Tribes in all parts of the United States are eligible to receive grants under this program, including federally recognized Tribes, pueblos, rancherias, and Alaska native villages or traditional councils as defined by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Federally recognized Tribes are listed in the Federal Register (68 FR 68180; December 5, 2003).

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

Application procedures are spelled out in the "Tribal Wildlife Grant Application Kit" available electronically at: http://grants.fws.gov/tribal.html. To receive a paper copy, contact the regional Office of the Native American Liaison.

Award Procedure

The Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service or his or her designee approves or disapproves proposed projects. Regional offices are responsible for notification of grant approval to the grantee and will coordinate the development of the grant agreement.

Deadlines

60 days after the request for grant proposals is published in the Federal Register and the Grants.gov website.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

Any differences of opinion over the eligibility of proposed activities or differences arising over the conduct of work may be appealed to the Director. Final determination rests with the Secretary of the Interior.

Renewals

None. Any requests for future funding must compete with requests for new projects.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

The Federal share of project costs is not to exceed 75%. Matching and cost sharing requirements are discussed in 43 CFR Part 12, Section 12.64.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are available until expended. Reimbursements can be requested on a continuing basis as expenditures are verified. Balances remaining unobligated or unspent after the final grant closeout are returned to the Service for reapportionment.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

A Performance Report and Financial Status Report are required for each grant annually within 90 days after the anniversary date and/or end of the grant.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive 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

Cost records must be maintained separately for each project. Records, accounts, and supporting documents must be retained for three years after submission of final Financial Status Report.

 

Program Accomplishments

In fiscal year 2003, 56 proposals were received and 23 were selected for funding. Similar results are expected in fiscal year 2004.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-5496-0-1-303.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 03 $0; FY 04 est $2,904,000; and FY 05 est $4,900,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Awards may be granted up to a maximum of $150,000 and there is no minimum. Tribes may submit more than one proposal, however, no tribe may receive more than $150,000 in any single TWG cycle.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004, Public Law 108-108, Title I, language on Landowner Incentive Program, and 43 CFR 12.

 

Related Programs

15.631, Partners for Fish and Wildlife; 15.623, North American Wetlands Conservation Fund; 15.630, Coastal Program; 15.639, Tribal Wildlife Grants Program.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Catalog Appendix IV for addresses.

Headquarters Office

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of External Affairs, ATTN: Native American Liaison, Mail Stop-3251, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240. Telephone: (202) 208-4133, Fax (202) 501-3524.

Web Site Address

http://grants.fws.gov/tribal.html

 

Examples of Funded Projects

Habitat improvement, augmentation, and monitoring of Roundtail chub (Gila Robusta) in the Navajo River; restoring the Penobscot River ecosystem; and a perennial stream study of the Topeka Shiner.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The following criteria will be used for selecting proposals: (1) Benefit: What are the probable significant outcomes to protect and restore habitats that benefit federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species on tribal lands if this program is successfully completed? The Service requires that the Tribe articulate how the benefits of its proposal support the goals and objectives of the TLIP and Service and tribal Performance Goals in its proposal narratives. (2) Performance Measures: To what extent does the proposal provide obtainable and quantifiable performance measures and means to monitor, evaluate, and report on these measures compared to an initial baseline? The measures should be specific and clear and should provide demonstrable benefits to the target species of the action. These measures must support the goals and objectives of the TLIP, the Service, and the Tribe. (3) Work Plan: Are the program activities and objectives well-designed and achievable? (4) Budget: Are all major budget items justified in relation to the program objectives and clearly explained in the narrative description? (5) Capacity Building: To what extent does the program increase the grantee's capacity to implement actions and activities that protect and restore habitats that benefit Federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species on tribal lands? (6) Contributions and Partnerships: To what extent does the applicant display commitment to the project proposal through in-kind contribution or matching funds and to what extent does it incorporate contributions from other nonfederal partners in the form of either cash or in-kind services?